Just a few weeks back, the Indianapolis Colts looked like one of the AFC’s most balanced and dangerous teams. They were 8-2 heading into the bye, quarterback Daniel Jones was drawing early MVP buzz, and the AFC South crown felt like theirs to lose.
Fast forward to now, and things have unraveled in a way no one could’ve predicted.
The Colts have dropped four straight since that bye, and the quarterback situation has gone from stable to downright surreal. First came the revelation that Jones had been playing through a broken fibula. Then, in a brutal twist, he tore his Achilles in the opposite leg during the loss to the Jaguars - a devastating blow to a season that had so much promise.
Things didn’t get any easier. Rookie backup Riley Leonard, who had been showing flashes in limited action, suffered a knee injury in that same game. That left Indianapolis with just one healthy quarterback: Brett Rypien, who had been on the practice squad before being thrust into the active roster.
And then, the Colts made a move that sent shockwaves across the league: they called up Philip Rivers.
Yes, that Philip Rivers - 44 years old, retired since January 2021, and already a semifinalist for the Hall of Fame. He came in for a tryout, signed to the practice squad, and just days later, was starting under center for Indy in a gritty 18-16 loss to the Seahawks.
Rivers’ return wasn’t just a novelty - it was a necessity. And while the Colts didn’t get the win, they did get a touchdown pass from the veteran, the only one they’d score that day.
He finished 18-of-27 for 120 yards, with one touchdown, one interception, and one sack. It wasn’t flashy, and it wasn’t enough, but it was a start.
Now, head coach Shane Steichen has confirmed that Rivers will remain the starter for Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers - a matchup that suddenly feels like a time warp.
It’s a wild full-circle moment. Rivers last played in the Colts’ 2021 playoff loss to Buffalo, where he threw two touchdowns but couldn’t dig Indy out of a 24-10 second-half hole.
That game looked like the end of a long, impressive career. Now, nearly four years later, he’s back under the lights - this time, trying to salvage a season spiraling out of control.
The 49ers are more than familiar with Rivers. Kyle Shanahan and his staff reportedly had him on their emergency radar during last year’s NFC Championship run, when Brock Purdy went down. That didn’t materialize, but clearly, the respect for Rivers’ football IQ never faded.
Still, the challenge ahead is steep. Rivers’ return may be a great story, but the tape from Sunday shows a quarterback whose mind is still sharp but whose body is lagging behind. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, his completion percentage over expected was -0.2 - essentially league average - and his average depth of target hovered just above 5 yards, ranking near the bottom among Week 15 starters.
That lack of downfield threat, combined with Rivers’ famously limited mobility, gives San Francisco’s defensive line a clear advantage. Unlike Daniel Jones or even Riley Leonard, Rivers won’t be extending plays or escaping pressure. That means the Niners can stay disciplined in their pass rush lanes and collapse the pocket without fear of a quarterback breaking contain.
The Colts know they’re up against it. Four straight losses have pushed them to the playoff bubble, and now they’re hosting one of the NFC’s most complete teams in primetime. But this is the NFL - weird things happen under the lights, and Indianapolis still has talent on both sides of the ball.
What Rivers brings now is less about raw arm strength and more about experience, leadership, and the ability to get the ball out quickly. If the Colts can scheme around his limitations and find rhythm early, they’ve got a puncher’s chance.
But make no mistake: the 49ers will be ready. They’ve seen Rivers before - just not like this.