The Indianapolis Colts are not ready to wave the white flag on their entire season.
With Daniel Jones’ season over, Anthony Richardson on injured reserve and backup quarterback Riley Leonard dealing with knee soreness, the Colts are reportedly considering using a familiar face at quarterback.
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The Colts will host Philip Rivers for practice on Tuesday and he could join their practice squad, according to the NFL. Rivers, 44, has not played in an NFL football game since the 2020 season.
But he led the Colts to success when he played that season, so they were clearly willing to see what he had left. An eight-time Pro Bowler with the Chargers, Rivers joined the Colts for his final NFL season and led the Colts to an 11-5 record and a berth in the playoffs.
The Colts are desperate at quarterback after an MRI on Monday confirmed Jones had ruptured his Achilles tendon in Sunday’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Anthony Richardson, meanwhile, remains on injured reserve with an orbital fracture and no timetable for his return. Head coach Sean Steichen said Monday that Richardson has not been cleared.
NASHVILLE, TN – NOVEMBER 12: Philip Rivers #17 of the Indianapolis Colts watches during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Weslichter/Getty Images)
(Wesley Hitt via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Jones’ backup and backup on Sunday, Riley Leonard, is dealing with knee soreness. Steichen said Monday that Leonard “hopes” to be able to play Sunday. If he doesn’t, the Colts will be without a quarterback on their active roster.
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Their next internal option is to promote practice squad quarterback Brett Rypien. Even in this scenario, the Colts need to add another quarterback to have a healthy backup should the injury recur on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
After Week 14 of the NFL season, quarterbacks won’t be easy to find. So obviously, it’s least worth calling Rivers to find out his status. The Colts will reportedly know the outcome on Tuesday.
This all comes during a season in which the Colts have entered the conversation with Jones having his best career season and an 8-2 start. The Colts had their sights set on the Super Bowl, trading two first-round picks instead of one for cornerback Soos Gardner at the trade deadline in hopes of bolstering their defense to compete for a playoff spot.
But Gardner later suffered a calf injury and is expected to miss several weeks. Even before Jones’ devastating Achilles tear, the Colts’ season was starting to shine.
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Jones showed signs of decline midseason, and the Colts lost two of three going into Sunday’s game against the Jaguars. Sunday’s 36-19 loss made it three of four games for the Colts, who are now 8-5 and out of reach of the playoff picture.
The season the Colts once had so much promise is gone. Rivers, 44, who hasn’t played football in nearly five years, is unlikely to be a savior. But the Colts were desperate at this point and invested enough money to give it a try.
