Indianapolis Colts Bring In Philip Rivers After QB Injuries/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Indianapolis Colts are bringing back retired quarterback Philip Rivers for a tryout following season-ending injuries to Daniel Jones and a knee issue for backup Riley Leonard. With limited options and playoff hopes fading, the team is exploring veteran leadership. Rivers hasn’t played since 2020 but remains a fan favorite.
Colts Call on Philip Rivers After Quarterback Injuries: Quick Looks
- Colts QB Daniel Jones out for the season with a torn Achilles.
- Backup Riley Leonard also injured his right knee and may miss time.
- Retired QB Philip Rivers scheduled for a workout in Indianapolis on Tuesday.
- Rivers last played for the Colts in 2020, leading them to the playoffs.
- Rivers has spent the last five years coaching high school football in Alabama.
- Rookie Anthony Richardson remains sidelined with a fractured orbital bone.
- Brett Rypien may be elevated from the practice squad if Leonard is unavailable.
- Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Jones will undergo surgery this week.
- Jones was enjoying a career-best season before his injury.
- The Colts (8-5) are clinging to playoff hopes with tough games ahead.
Indianapolis Colts Bring In Philip Rivers After QB Injuries
Deep Look
In a surprising and dramatic turn, the Indianapolis Colts are looking to 44-year-old Philip Rivers to stabilize their quarterback situation after both of their top signal-callers suffered significant injuries. The franchise, still in playoff contention at 8-5, is calling back the retired quarterback who once led them to the postseason—and hasn’t played a snap since.
The move came hours after head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Daniel Jones, the Colts’ starting quarterback, will miss the rest of the 2025 season due to a torn Achilles tendon. Just as the team was reeling from that blow, backup Riley Leonard reported a knee injury following Sunday’s 36-19 loss to Jacksonville.
A person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press that Rivers will work out for the team on Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity, as the Colts have not made a formal announcement.
Rivers last played in 2020, his final NFL season, when he led the Colts to an 11-5 record and a playoff appearance. Since retiring in early 2021, he’s been coaching high school football at St. Michael Catholic in Fairhope, Alabama—the same hometown as Riley Leonard.
It’s unclear how game-ready Rivers might be or how quickly he could re-learn the system, but he does have a strong history with Colts head coach Shane Steichen. The two worked together during their time with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers. Rivers also has ties to Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti, dating back to their days at North Carolina State.
This emergency workout comes at a pivotal time. The Colts have lost three straight games and four of their last five, and now face a daunting schedule: at Seattle (10-3), then home games against San Francisco (9-4) and Jacksonville (9-4), followed by a regular-season finale at Houston (8-5).
Steichen broke the news about Jones during his weekly press conference.
“He’ll have surgery within the week,” Steichen said. “Obviously, I feel for him. He’s one of the toughest guys I’ve ever been around. Just a gut-wrenching situation.”
Jones had been having arguably the best season of his career. In 13 games, he completed 261 of 348 passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He also rushed for five touchdowns and posted a career-high completion rate of 68%. His performance had even placed him in early MVP conversations, a remarkable turnaround after inconsistent seasons in New York.
However, he was playing through pain. Jones reportedly wore extra padding on his left leg in recent games, and though the Colts never confirmed it, reports indicated he may have played with a broken fibula.
Steichen would not speculate whether the leg injury contributed to the Achilles tear.
“I don’t know that,” he said. “It’s just a very, very unfortunate situation.”
Then came the unexpected twist with Leonard. The rookie quarterback, who had taken over for Jones, reportedly arrived at the team facility Monday with swelling in his right knee. While Leonard completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards and an interception against Jacksonville, his status for the next game is unclear.
“He came in with a knee this morning. We’re still evaluating,” Steichen said. “Hopefully, he’s available—but we’ll see.”
If Leonard is ruled out, veteran Brett Rypien could be the next man up. Signed to the practice squad in October, Rypien is not currently on the active roster and hasn’t taken snaps with the first team.
Meanwhile, rookie Anthony Richardson, the Colts’ first-round pick in 2023, remains out with a fractured orbital bone and has not practiced in weeks. Steichen confirmed Richardson is still not close to returning.
“He’s not ready yet,” Steichen said.
With both Jones and Leonard potentially sidelined, the Colts are left scrambling. Rivers, who threw for 63,440 yards and 421 touchdowns over his 17-year career, might just be the emergency solution they need. An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Rivers was recently named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
In 2020, his lone season in Indianapolis, Rivers threw for 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while leading the Colts to a wild-card playoff berth.
Bringing him back now may seem unconventional, but it could be the lifeline the Colts need with a thin quarterback room and playoff hopes on the line.
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