Philip Rivers Returns to Colts: Veteran QB Brings Leadership, Hope to Injury-Hit Team
Just one day after unretiring at age 44, Philip Rivers was back in the huddle - not in a game, but in front of his Indianapolis Colts teammates, delivering a message that hit home for a team that’s been struggling to stay afloat in a brutal AFC playoff race.
The Colts have been reeling since their Week 11 bye, and with injuries decimating the quarterback room, head coach Shane Steichen turned to a familiar face. Rivers, who last played for the Colts in 2020, has joined the team’s practice squad and is on track to start this Sunday against the 10-3 Seattle Seahawks.
And while Rivers hasn’t thrown a live-game pass in nearly five years, his presence is already being felt - not just in the quarterback room, but across the entire locker room.
“I Don’t Take This for Granted”
According to center Tanor Bortolini, Rivers addressed the team ahead of a midweek practice and made it clear that this return isn’t just about stepping in - it’s about embracing the moment.
“He said, ‘You know what? I think for most people you always know what this game comes to, and at some point I thought it'd be over,’” Bortolini shared.
“‘So, it's pretty cool to be back. And I don't take this for granted at all.’
You just know that he's going to give everything he has.”
That’s been Rivers’ calling card throughout his career - fiery, passionate, and relentlessly competitive. And now, in a season where the Colts are hanging onto playoff hopes by a thread, that energy might be exactly what they need.
Colts QB Room in Crisis
The Colts didn’t turn to Rivers because of nostalgia - they did it out of necessity. The quarterback depth chart has been gutted by injuries: Daniel Jones is out for the season with a torn Achilles, Anthony Richardson Sr. is sidelined indefinitely with an orbital fracture, and rookie Riley Leonard is nursing a strained knee ligament.
That left Indianapolis with journeyman Brett Rypien, who began the week on the practice squad and now looks set to back up Rivers on Sunday.
It’s a less-than-ideal scenario for a team still fighting for a playoff spot, but Rivers isn’t walking into this situation to be a placeholder. If anything, his return signals that the Colts still believe they have something to play for - and they’re not ready to fold.
“Why Not Us?”
The Colts are 8-5, but they trail the Houston Texans for the AFC’s final wild-card spot thanks to a head-to-head loss in Week 13. The two teams will meet again in Week 18, a game that could have massive playoff implications.
As of Friday morning, oddsmakers weren’t exactly optimistic about Indy’s chances this week - DraftKings had them listed as 13.5-point underdogs against the Seahawks. ESPN’s Football Power Index gave them just a 25.5% chance to make the playoffs.
But Rivers, never one to back down from a challenge, is urging the team to block out the noise and believe.
“He said, ‘We’ve got a pretty good record now,’” said guard Matt Goncalves. “He said, ‘Why not us?’ Basically, he said to keep our heads up because anything can happen.”
That kind of mindset is contagious - especially coming from a guy who’s played in 244 regular-season games and led countless fourth-quarter comebacks. Rivers has been through just about every NFL scenario imaginable, and he’s not showing up to coast through December. He’s here to compete.
A Shot of Energy When the Colts Needed It Most
After starting the season 7-1, the Colts have dropped three straight and four of their last five. Morale has taken a hit, and the offense has lacked rhythm and identity. But Rivers’ arrival seems to have sparked something - a jolt of energy that could help right the ship.
“Being able to kind of have some of that energy that we had beforehand, I think that it was really nice,” said running back Jonathan Taylor. “And I think that we're going to continue to use that.
Obviously, we have to go and execute out at practice and make sure it translates on Sunday. But just from an energy, a vibe, a juice standpoint, I think it was really good.”
Taylor’s not wrong. The Colts don’t just need a quarterback - they need a leader. And Rivers, even after years away from the game, still has that in spades.
Can the Colts Rally?
The odds are long, and the road ahead is steep. But Rivers isn’t here for a farewell tour.
He’s here to help the Colts win football games. And for a team that’s been through the wringer, that belief - that “why not us?”
mentality - might be their most valuable asset down the stretch.
Sunday in Seattle will be a trial by fire. But with Rivers under center and a locker room that suddenly believes again, don’t count Indianapolis out just yet.