The Indianapolis Colts agreed to bring 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers out of retirement.
Rivers worked out for the Colts on Monday night and agreed to join the practice squad on Tuesday morning.
But this is more than a practice squad signing – the Colts are going to see how Rivers is physically feeling and determine if they could start him to stay afloat in the AFC Playoffs picture.
Obviously, the Colts need help after losing Daniel Jones to a ruptured Achilles tendon in Week 14. The Colts are still without 2023 No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson, who could tank the season if he was healthy enough to play.
But turning to Rivers is so hilariously on brand for the same organization that hired Jeff Saturday as an interim head coach just a few seasons ago. Remember, Saturday has no prior involvement with the coaching staff but was removed from his television studio job to be the interim coach of his old team.
In the short-term, the Colts are going to hope that Rivers can keep the car on the road for Indianapolis in the event that he has to play. They have a few talented receivers and a sleeper MVP candidate in running back Jonathan Taylor.
Multiple national NFL insiders are already propping up the familiarity that Rivers has within Colts head coach Shane Steichen’s offense, priming the football world for the 44-year-old to make his NFL return sooner than later.
Sure, the Colts could have tried free agent quarterbacks like Taylor Heinecke, Ryan Tannehill or Trevor Siemian… but what fun would that have been?
Rivers last played in the NFL in 2020, when he started 16 games for the Colts. He retired after throwing 24 touchdown passes to 11 interceptions. He’d retire after the season, but the Colts stuck with veteran quarterbacks, adding Carson Wentz to replace Rivers.
Now 44, Rivers last played when Baker Mayfield was the savior for the Cleveland Browns. Justin Fields was still throwing touchdown passes to Chris Olave with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Jimmy Graham was the starting tight end for Matt Nagy’s Chicago Bears, who were headed to the NFL Playoffs.
A lot has changed since then.
When Saturday was named the interim head coach of the Colts, the team won their first game.
It’s unknown when or if Rivers will start a game, but the Colts will certainly hope he can replicate Saturday’s initial magic.
Many national folks have also reported that Rivers has served as a mentor to Riley Leonard, the former Notre Dame quarterback who is dealing with an injury of his own.
If Leonard can’t start due to that knee injury, it could be a throwback weekend for Colts fans everywhere if Rivers starts the game as the team is set to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
