The Indianapolis Colts agreed to convey 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers out of retirement.
Rivers labored out for the Colts on Monday night time and agreed to hitch the apply squad on Tuesday morning.
However that is greater than a apply squad signing – the Colts are going to see how Rivers is bodily feeling and decide if they might begin him to remain afloat within the AFC Playoffs image.
Clearly, the Colts need assistance after dropping Daniel Jones to a ruptured Achilles tendon in Week 14. The Colts are nonetheless with out 2023 No. 4 general decide Anthony Richardson, who may tank the season if he was wholesome sufficient to play.
However turning to Rivers is so hilariously on model for a similar group that employed Jeff Saturday as an interim head coach just some seasons in the past. Bear in mind, Saturday has no prior involvement with the teaching workers however was faraway from his tv studio job to be the interim coach of his previous workforce.
Within the short-term, the Colts are going to hope that Rivers can preserve the automotive on the street for Indianapolis within the occasion that he has to play. They’ve a number of proficient receivers and a sleeper MVP candidate in operating again Jonathan Taylor.
A number of nationwide NFL insiders are already propping up the familiarity that Rivers has inside Colts head coach Shane Steichen’s offense, priming the soccer world for the 44-year-old to make his NFL return earlier than later.
Certain, the Colts may have tried free agent quarterbacks like Taylor Heinecke, Ryan Tannehill or Trevor Siemian… however what enjoyable would which were?
Rivers final performed within the NFL in 2020, when he began 16 video games for the Colts. He retired after throwing 24 landing passes to 11 interceptions. He’d retire after the season, however the Colts caught with veteran quarterbacks, including Carson Wentz to switch Rivers.
Now 44, Rivers final performed when Baker Mayfield was the savior for the Cleveland Browns. Justin Fields was nonetheless throwing landing passes to Chris Olave with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Jimmy Graham was the beginning tight finish for Matt Nagy’s Chicago Bears, who had been headed to the NFL Playoffs.
Rather a lot has modified since then.
When Saturday was named the interim head coach of the Colts, the workforce gained their first recreation.
It’s unknown when or if Rivers will begin a recreation, however the Colts will definitely hope he can replicate Saturday’s preliminary magic.
Many nationwide people have additionally reported that Rivers has served as a mentor to Riley Leonard, the previous Notre Dame quarterback who’s coping with an harm of his personal.
If Leonard can’t begin resulting from that knee harm, it might be a throwback weekend for Colts followers in every single place if Rivers begins the sport because the workforce is about to face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
