NFL
By Rick O’Donnell
When starting quarterback Daniel Jones went down for the season, the Indianapolis Colts wasted no time trying to find his replacement. That replacement was an old friend who may or may not be able to save their season, former QB Phillip Rivers. Rivers was signed to the practice squad for the Colts, and a call-up would certainly give them the depth they need. However, Rivers would be eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot this year, if he’s called up, that timer resets on his 5-year window. Is this the right move for the Colts?
Limited Options
The Colts don’t have a lot to go on here. Their active roster quarterbacks not on IR are Riley Leonard and Brett Rypien. Leonard is listed as questionable, according to ESPN.com, and has only appeared in 2 games with 0 TDs and 1 INT, throwing for just a 58% completion percentage. Rypien has a bit more experience playing 11 games, throwing 4 TDs and 9 INTs, with the same 58% completion percentage.
Free Agency isn’t much better, where the only notable names are Taylor Heinecke, Trevor Siemian, and Ryan Tannehill. Unfortunately, Phillip Rivers might be their best option.
Rusty
What can we say about Phillip Rivers? He might be one of the better quarterbacks in the league to never have won a Super Bowl. He had all the talent in the world and never quite got to the top of the mountain. Now he’ll be back on a roster in 2025, at the age of 44, 5 years after he announced his retirement. The question really isn’t “what does he have left” but more, “how is he an improvement?” How bad is your backup quarterback situation that you have to bring in a guy who hasn’t thrown an NFL pass in the past 5 seasons? There’s no way he’s going to come in and be in the type of shape to lead a playoff-caliber football team, right?
No Chemistry
Well, at least there will be a couple of familiar faces on offense. Jonathan Taylor was the running back for the Colts in 2020 when Rivers retired, and Michael Pittman Jr, a WR. Other than that, the Colts will look like a rebuilt team from then until now, and Rivers will have to reestablish himself with each receiver. Now granted, he’s a future Hall of Fame QB. No matter how you look at it, he’ll find a way to make throws. However, we’re in the thick of the playoff hunt, he can’t be out here slinging it with relative freedom. He’ll have to be spot on with his guys and as crisp a passer as he was in his 30s, something that might not be possible.
Phillip Rivers is no doubt a gamble for the Indianapolis Colts. If he can still come in and play with some degree of patience and intensity, he could save their season. If five years off prove to be too much, the Colts may just slip out of a playoff spot.
