Colts Turn to a Familiar Face: Philip Rivers Returns as Emergency QB Option
The Colts are reaching into the past to steady their quarterback situation in the present.
With Daniel Jones out for the season and backup Riley Leonard dealing with a knee injury, Indianapolis has turned to a name that’s very familiar to both the franchise and head coach Shane Steichen - veteran quarterback Philip Rivers. According to multiple team sources, Steichen reached out to Rivers shortly after Leonard’s injury was diagnosed, and Rivers didn’t hesitate.
“He was immediately open to the idea,” one source said. And that makes sense.
Rivers and Steichen have history - the kind that builds trust and keeps the playbook from gathering dust. Their connection dates back to their time together with the Chargers, and the bond clearly hasn’t faded.
In fact, Rivers had been loosely on the Colts’ radar ever since Anthony Richardson went down with an orbital fracture back in October. While nothing was set in motion at the time, the idea of Rivers as an emergency fallback was apparently floated internally.
The Colts did explore the trade market after Richardson’s injury, but nothing came together. That left the door wide open for a familiar veteran to walk through.
“Options out there are slim,” one source said. “He knows the system, so why not? What the heck?”
This wasn’t a surprise inside the building. The relationship between Steichen and Rivers made this a logical move - not a desperation play, but a calculated one.
“It was like, ‘If s- goes south, would he be willing?’ Shane and Philip are close, so I don’t think this really surprised anyone,” another source added.
Rivers, now a Hall of Fame semifinalist for 2026, will have to restart his five-year waiting period with this return. But that didn’t factor into his decision.
“I haven’t been holding my breath on that,” Rivers said. “I haven’t been counting down the years… That was not a factor.”
And in classic Rivers fashion, he joked about his mobility - or lack thereof - when asked about returning to the field.
“But I ain’t ever run away from anybody anyway,” he quipped.
Still, this isn’t just a feel-good reunion. There’s belief inside the Colts’ locker room that Rivers can still play.
“I’d still take him at this stage over most 22- to 23-year-old [backups],” one team source said.
That’s high praise, especially considering Rivers hasn’t taken an NFL snap since the 2020 season. But the arm talent?
Still there. The football mind?
As sharp as ever. The only question is conditioning.
“He needs to get in football shape,” one source admitted. “But there’s no question he can throw it.”
How quickly Rivers can ramp up will determine whether he’s active for Week 15. That decision will come down to how he handles practice reps this week. Riley Leonard, meanwhile, practiced on Wednesday, and the Colts plan to make a call on their starter by the end of the week.
Rivers, for his part, kept the decision to return simple.
“It’s a coach that I love, an organization that I enjoyed being with… the teammates I was able to play with. Fourteen of them are still here. They wanted me, I tried to keep it as simple as that.”
And according to a source close to Rivers, he’s in better shape now than when he last played - a claim that, if true, could make this reunion more than just a short-term patch.
“It’s a no-brainer for who gives them the best chance,” the source said.
Texans Rookie Kamari Lassiter Steps Up in Big Moment
In Houston’s big Week 14 win over the Chiefs, rookie corner Kamari Lassiter put together a performance that turned heads - and not just for the interception he snagged off one of the league’s toughest quarterbacks.
Playing through a foot injury that limited him during the week, Lassiter still managed to record six tackles and a pick. Head coach DeMeco Ryans didn’t hold back in his praise.
“I can’t say enough about the effort from our defense,” Ryans said. “Kamari battling all week to come out to make a huge play… that’s what this team is about.”
The interception itself was a product of smart, disciplined football - the kind that’s becoming a hallmark of this young Texans secondary.
“His guy ran to the corner, switched it, and I think maybe the quarterback thought that he had something, and I was able to make the play,” Lassiter said. “But that’s just being able to play with guys who are always on the details. Man, I play with the best in the world.”
Fellow corner Derek Stingley Jr. was quick to back that up, calling Lassiter a “complete football player.”
“That’s Kamari,” Stingley said. “Every play is 100 percent all the time. Doesn’t matter what’s going on, circumstances of the game or whatever, he’s gonna end up with the ball some way, somehow, or he’s gonna knock somebody out.”
That’s high praise from a rising star, and it speaks to how quickly Lassiter has earned respect in the locker room. For a Texans defense that’s been steadily improving, his emergence couldn’t come at a better time.
Titans GM-Matt Nagy Connection Drawing Buzz
As the Titans continue to evaluate their future at head coach, one name keeps popping up in league circles: Matt Nagy.
The current Chiefs offensive coordinator is expected to be a prominent candidate this hiring cycle, and there’s a natural connection in Tennessee. Titans GM Mike Borgonzi spent years in the Chiefs’ front office, and according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, league sources continue to link the two.
While nothing is imminent, the dots are easy to connect. Nagy’s offensive pedigree, especially under Andy Reid, and his history with Borgonzi could make him a strong fit for a Titans team looking to retool its identity.
It’s a storyline worth watching as the coaching carousel starts to spin.