The Indianapolis Colts will bring in retired quarterback Philip Rivers for a workout Tuesday as the team faces a severe quarterback crisis, sources confirmed to ESPN\'s Adam Schefter. Rivers, who turned 44 on Monday and last played in 2020, could provide an emergency solution with starter Daniel Jones out for the season and backup Riley Leonard dealing with a knee injury.
The Colts have not yet decided to sign Rivers, and Rivers has not determined whether he would play, a source said. However, Rivers\' familiarity with the offensive scheme and his previous relationship with coach Shane Steichen could make him a viable option despite his extended absence from football. Rivers spent his final NFL season with Indianapolis in 2020, leading the team to an 11-5 record and a playoff berth. He completed 68% of his passes and threw 24 touchdown passes that season. The Colts averaged 253.3 passing yards under Rivers, more than any Indianapolis team has produced since.
Rivers worked closely with Steichen during Steichen\'s tenure as offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers. The Colts believe this familiarity could help them remain competitive despite the quarterback shortage.
Jones had been enjoying a career year before tearing his right Achilles in a noncontact injury Sunday against Jacksonville. Leonard was expected to finish the season as starter, but he reported a knee issue to medical staff Monday morning. A source told Schefter that Leonard had a strained knee ligament and is considered week-to-week.
With former first-round pick Anthony Richardson also on injured reserve, the Colts have only practice squad quarterback Brett Rypien available. Should Rivers start Sunday, it would mark 1,800 days since his last NFL game, the third-most days between starts among quarterbacks who did not play between them, per Elias Sports Bureau.
The Colts (8-5) currently sit outside the AFC playoff field on a tiebreaker with Houston. Indianapolis has four games remaining against Seattle, San Francisco, Jacksonville and Houston.