The Indianapolis Colts introduced Saturday that Philip Rivers has been signed to the staff’s 53-man energetic roster forward of a Sunday showdown towards the Seattle Seahawks.
The 44-year-old Rivers joined the Colts’ follow squad earlier within the week following a season-ending damage to beginning quarterback Daniel Jones.
Multiple NFL insiders are reporting that Rivers will begin the sport beneath middle for Indianapolis, however the Colts are taking part in it near the vest for now.
“Our team won’t officially announce a starter before kickoff tomorrow,” Colts spokesman Matt Conti informed NCS on Saturday.
Rivers retired from the NFL in January 2021, after 17 seasons within the league, having spent his ultimate yr with the Colts throughout a difficult Covid-19 season.
“I had not given any thought of playing again until about 48 hours ago, to be honest with you,” a candid Rivers mentioned Wednesday whereas standing in entrance of a bunch of reporters on the Indianapolis Colts facility.
Rivers – now a grandfather – had been having fun with retirement, holding busy as a highschool soccer coach in Fairhope, Alabama, when the sudden name got here from the Colts.
Rivers was approaching a possible spot within the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first yr of eligibility – having been lately named a semifinalist. Now that he’s been added to the Colts’ energetic roster, his eligibility will get pushed again one other 5 years.
Indianapolis was in desparate form after a rash of accidents ravaged their quarterbacks room.
Jones was out with a torn proper Achilles. Riley Leonard is nursing a knee damage. Anthony Richardson, who was positioned on injured reserve earlier this season, nonetheless is just not cleared to return. The Colts have additionally signed Brett Rypien to the energetic roster from their follow squad.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen – who labored with Rivers as an assistant coach after they had been with the Chargers – was instrumental within the long-shot plan to deliver Rivers again the NFL after almost 5 years away.
After sleeping on the supply, Rivers determined to come back work out with the staff and see how he felt.
“So he came in here, threw – he didn’t forget how to throw a football,” Steichen mentioned Wednesday. “Then Tuesday, he was within the lodge considering it over. He referred to as us, me and (Colts basic supervisor) Chris (Ballard) had been within the workplace, mentioned, ‘What do you think?’
“He said, ‘Dadgummit, let’s freaking go.’”
For Rivers, this chance with this staff presently simply felt proper.
“They wanted me,” Rivers mentioned of the Colts on Wednesday. “I attempt to maintain it so simple as that. A recreation I like to play. A recreation that I believed I used to be completed taking part in. Certainly, I wasn’t actually hanging on any hope of taking part in once more. I form of thought that ship had sailed.
“But something about it excited me. Just kind of one of those deals – a door opens and you can either walk through and find out if you can do it or run from it. I know that there’s risk involved obviously in what may or may not happen. But the only way to find out is to go for it.”
Rivers nonetheless has his trademark gunslinger’s swagger, however even he isn’t certain how this story will finish.
“I think like all of us, even me, I mean, you’re a little scared, a little nervous,” Rivers mentioned. “I mean, all the above. Any adjective you can throw in there that’s a synonym with those. But excited.”
As for his kids, he says they too have been supportive of his return.
“My boys are fired up, clearly, however I feel share the identical sentiment – a bit nervous like, ‘Dad, do you think you can do it?’
The reply will come when the Colts and Seahawks kick off at 4:25 p.m. ET.
NCS’s Jill Martin contributed to this report.