It is very troublesome to win within the NFL with out a robust quarterback. The Indianapolis Colts are seeing this unfold in actual time. Their starter, Daniel Jones, is out for the season after tearing his proper Achilles. The backup, Anthony Richardson Sr., suffered a facial fracture after a freak tools room accident. Now, third-stringer Riley Leonard, who got here in final weekend after Jones went down, is nursing a knee harm of his personal.
The Colts are in dire straits, they usually’re turning to a well-recognized face. The staff introduced it is signed Philip Rivers to the apply squad.
Rivers retired from the NFL in January 2021 after 17 seasons. He primarily performed with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers, although he joined the Colts for his ultimate season. He is additionally now 44 years outdated and a grandpa—however he nonetheless could be the most suitable choice for an Indianapolis staff desperately combating for a playoff spot.
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After an 8-2 begin, the Colts have been one of many feel-good tales of the season. However three straight losses, together with a pair towards fellow AFC South playoff contenders within the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, has dampened their postseason hopes. The Colts are at present eighth within the AFC race, shedding the tiebreaker to the Texans for the ultimate playoff spot.
Leonard is a rookie the Colts chosen within the sixth spherical. He led Notre Dame to the School Soccer Playoff championship recreation final 12 months, however the NFL is a special beast than the NCAA. Rivers was chosen because the fourth general choose of the 2004 NFL Draft. He spent his first 16 years within the NFL with the Chargers earlier than a single swan tune season in Indianapolis.
That 12 months, Rivers led the Colts to a stunning 11-5 report and a playoff look. He threw for over 4,000 yards and completed the season with 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He reportedly regarded spectacular in his exercise, although he understandably wants to enhance his conditioning.
Rivers, who has ten youngsters along with his spouse Tiffany, grew to become a grandfather in late 2024. His first youngster, Halle, gave start to a child boy, only a 12 months after Rivers’ tenth youngster was born. He may turn into simply the second grandfather to play within the NFL, becoming a member of Brett Favre.
One other attention-grabbing wrinkle is Rivers’s Corridor of Fame standing. He is at present a semifinalist for the Corridor of Fame Class of 2026. If the Colts merely maintain him on the apply squad, he’ll preserve his eligibility. If he indicators to the Colts’ lively roster—even when he would not take a single snap all season lengthy—his eligibility clock would begin over. Assuming he retired once more after this season, meaning Rivers would not be eligible for the Corridor of Fame till 2031.
Then once more, becoming a member of the Colts for the stretch run and main them to a Tremendous Bowl victory can be a reasonably spectacular addition to Rivers’s resume. That will surely be well worth the wait.
