Colts Insider Backs 44-Year-Old Philip Rivers 'Over Most' Younger NFL Backup QBs

The Indianapolis Colts reportedly feel bringing Philip Rivers out of retirement is a better option than going with backup quarterbacks more than 20 years his junior.

"I'd still take him at this stage over most 22- to 23-year-old [backups]," a Colts team source told ESPN's Stephen Holder and Jeremy Fowler.

Rivers, 44, signed with the Colts practice squad following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles injury. He hasn't played in the NFL since the Colts' Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills in January 2021.

Jones, who was playing on a fractured left fibula, suffering a ruptured right Achilles in the second quarter of Sunday's 36-19 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Rookie backup Riley Leonard stepped in following Jones' injury, going 18-for-29 with 145 passing yards, an interception and a rushing touchdown.

But head coach Shane Steichen said Monday that Leonard was "working through" a right knee injury, which NFL Network's Ian Rapoport identified Tuesday as a Grade 1 PCL sprain.

The Colts' only other quarterback option prior to signing Rivers was practice squad signal caller Brett Rypien.

Steichen already confirmed that Anthony Richardson, who was placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 6, would not be activated for Week 15. According to NBC Sports' Mike Florio, the Colts aren't yet sure Richardson will be able to return this season.

ESPN's Stephen Holder described Rivers as a "close friend" of Steichen's, and former NFLer and CBS Sports analyst J.J. Watt said Rivers and Steichen have spoken "weekly" about the offensive scheme Rivers has been running as a high school football coach.

The question will be how long it will take Rivers to be ready to play in the NFL more than five years after his last professional game.

Holder reported Tuesday that Rivers had been "impressive" and "threw the ball well" in a workout for the Colts, but that he "needs to improve his conditioning."

The Colts have limited options this side of the trade deadline. Taylor Heinicke, who last played four games for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024, is still a free agent. Former Colts backup Sam Ehlinger is meanwhile working on the Denver Broncos' practice squad.

Whether Rivers is called into his first NFL action in five years this weekend could hinge both on Leonard's health as well as his ability to get up to game speed this week.