Lead: The Indianapolis Colts are scheduled to audition retired quarterback Philip Rivers on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, sources told ESPN. The move comes after starter Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in the Colts’ Dec. 7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Backup Riley Leonard is listed week-to-week with a strained knee ligament, leaving the team thin at the position. With Anthony Richardson on injured reserve and only Brett Rypien on the practice squad, Indianapolis is seeking short-term veteran depth.
Key Takeaways
- The Colts plan to work out Philip Rivers on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, per ESPN sources and reporting by Adam Schefter.
- Daniel Jones sustained a season-ending Achilles tear in the Dec. 7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season.
- Riley Leonard, who replaced Jones, is dealing with a strained knee ligament and is considered week-to-week ahead of Sunday’s game vs. the Seattle Seahawks.
- Anthony Richardson remains on injured reserve, leaving Brett Rypien as the only experienced quarterback on the practice squad.
- Rivers last started in the NFL in 2020-21 for the Colts, finishing that season 11-5 with 4,169 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
- Philip Rivers, who turned 44 on Dec. 8, 2025, is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and ranks sixth all-time with 63,440 passing yards and 421 touchdown passes.
Background
The Colts entered the 2025 season expecting Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones to compete for the starting role; injuries have upended that plan. Richardson has been on injured reserve for a portion of the year after his own health setbacks, forcing Indianapolis to rely on Jones as the Week 15 starter. The team’s depth chart has been fragile: Riley Leonard, a rookie, was pressed into action against Jacksonville and now faces a knee ligament issue that creates further uncertainty.
Philip Rivers, who retired after the 2020-21 campaign, briefly returned to the Colts’ roster late that season and posted an 11-5 record with 4,169 yards and 24 touchdowns. His veteran presence, pocket-passing style and familiarity with the AFC could make him an attractive short-term option for a team in immediate need. Historically, Rivers has been durable and productive; his career totals place him among the NFL’s all-time leaders.
Main Event
Sources told ESPN on Dec. 8, 2025, that the Colts will host Rivers for a workout on Tuesday, Dec. 9. The tryout is a direct response to Daniel Jones’ Achilles tear sustained during the Dec. 7 loss to Jacksonville. Indianapolis coaching staff and personnel evaluators are expected to monitor Rivers’ physical condition, throwing mechanics and readiness to step into game action on short notice.
Riley Leonard left the Jacksonville game after replacing Jones and was described by a team source as dealing with a strained knee ligament; he remains week-to-week. The Colts have not declared Leonard unavailable for the upcoming Sunday matchup in Seattle but will make final determinations after additional medical evaluations. If Leonard is not cleared, the team could turn to Rypien or pursue a rapid signing after Rivers’ workout.
Brett Rypien is currently the only quarterback on the Colts’ practice squad with notable NFL experience; he has served as a journeyman backup on multiple rosters. The Colts’ front office has historically acted quickly when quarterback depth is threatened, and the Rivers workout signals an urgency to secure a veteran capable of preparing in-and-out of practice and potentially starting if necessary.
Analysis & Implications
Short-term roster moves like a Rivers audition are pragmatic for a franchise that must weigh playoff aspirations against immediate health realities. Rivers’ age (44) and years away from full-time NFL competition raise legitimate durability and sharpness questions, but his recent seasons and career tape show a high football IQ and quick preparation ability—traits valuable to a rebuilding or playoff-hopeful team facing sudden injuries.
From a schematic perspective, Rivers’ pocket-oriented approach contrasts with the mobility the Colts had hoped to deploy with Richardson and Leonard. The coaching staff would need to adjust play-calling to accommodate a veteran who excels in quick reads and timing routes rather than designed quarterback runs. That could temporarily alter the Colts’ identity but may stabilize the offense if Rivers is signed and performs reliably.
Leaguewide, the workout underscores how teams increasingly turn to recently retired veterans as stopgap solutions. Rivers’ presence would provide leadership in the locker room and a known quantity to prepare the offense in a compressed timeline. If Rivers were signed and effective, the Colts could preserve a favorable path to the postseason; if he is not game-ready, Indianapolis may face a high-variance stretch at quarterback that could affect team morale and results.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Philip Rivers (career) | 2020-21 Season (Colts) |
|---|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 63,440 (6th all-time) | 4,169 |
| Touchdown Passes | 421 (6th all-time) | 24 |
| Pro Bowls | 8 | — |
The table places Rivers’ career totals beside his final active NFL season (2020-21) to show both long-term production and the last set of annual numbers teams evaluate. Colts decision-makers will balance Rivers’ historical reliability against his time away from a regular role.
Reactions & Quotes
“The Indianapolis Colts will work out retired quarterback Philip Rivers on Tuesday,”
Adam Schefter / ESPN (media report)
“NFL Network first reported the Colts’ plan to bring Rivers in for a tryout,”
NFL Network (media report)
Team officials have not released an on-the-record comment as of Dec. 8, 2025. Local fans and analysts reacted quickly on social platforms, with many noting Rivers’ experience but questioning his readiness after several years out of a full-time starting role.
Unconfirmed
- No official contract offer to Philip Rivers had been announced as of Dec. 8, 2025; the workout itself had been reported but not confirmed by the Colts’ front office.
- Riley Leonard’s exact timeline for return is unclear; team updates are pending more detailed medical evaluation.
- Whether Rivers would be willing to sign for a short-term deal or serve only as insurance without an immediate roster move remains unverified.
Bottom Line
The Colts’ reported plan to bring Philip Rivers in for a workout reflects an urgent, pragmatic response to a sudden collapse of quarterback depth after Daniel Jones’ season-ending Achilles tear. Rivers offers experience, a quick-preparation profile and historical production, but his age and time away from a full-time starting role introduce measurable risk.
Decision points for Indianapolis will hinge on Rivers’ physical evaluation, Leonard’s recovery timeline and the Colts’ appetite for short-term veteran stabilization versus developing their younger quarterbacks. Expect rapid follow-ups from the team in the days after the workout as they weigh immediate needs ahead of the Dec. 14 game in Seattle.