Lead
Philip Rivers, 44, is set to join the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad after working out with the club Monday night, multiple reports say. Rivers retired after the 2020 season and had been coaching high school football in Alabama; he is now stepping back into a professional role as the Colts cope with a cascade of quarterback injuries. Indianapolis sits 8-5 with four regular-season games remaining, and Rivers’ addition aims to provide emergency depth and veteran poise. The move could also affect Rivers’ Pro Football Hall of Fame eligibility if he reaches the active roster.
Key Takeaways
- Philip Rivers, age 44 and a 2004 No. 4 overall pick, worked out for the Colts Monday and is reported to be signing to the team’s practice squad.
- Rivers retired after the 2020 season and has been coaching high school football in Alabama; he is also a grandfather.
- Indianapolis is 8-5 with four games left; the Colts have lost QB Anthony Richardson (orbital fracture), Daniel Jones (torn Achilles, out for season) and have uncertainty around Riley Leonard (knee).
- Rivers played for the Colts in 2020 and has familiarity with head coach Shane Steichen, who coached him previously with the Chargers.
- If Rivers is elevated to the active roster, his Hall of Fame candidacy would be affected; he is currently a 2026 semifinalist.
Background
Philip Rivers concluded a 17-season NFL career after the 2020 campaign, finishing that season with the Indianapolis Colts following a long tenure with the Chargers. A durable starter for most of his career, Rivers was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2004 draft and later became known for his competitive play and leadership. After retiring, Rivers moved into high school coaching in Alabama and into family life; reports note he is now a grandfather.
The Colts entered the 2025 late-season stretch with playoff hopes but have been hammered by an unusual run of quarterback injuries. Backup Anthony Richardson suffered an orbital fracture in a pregame accident and is out; starting quarterback Daniel Jones tore his Achilles on Sunday and is done for the year, while third-string Riley Leonard suffered a knee injury that leaves his Week 15 status in doubt. With four games to play, Indianapolis’ QB depth chart has been rapidly depleted.
Main Event
According to multiple media reports, Rivers worked out with the Colts on Monday night and agreed to join the practice squad. The signing would put a veteran, NFL-tested quarterback into the team’s building immediately, allowing coaches to evaluate preparation, playbook fit and short-term availability. Rivers’ familiarity with Shane Steichen — who served as his position coach and offensive coordinator in Los Angeles — was a likely factor in the club bringing him in.
Rivers last played in the NFL in 2020 with Indianapolis, that season finishing 11-5 and reaching the postseason. He has not participated in an NFL game since then and has spent his post-playing years away from pro football. The practice-squad arrangement would let Rivers re-acclimate to NFL tempo without immediately occupying an active-roster spot.
The Colts travel to Seattle for Week 15; whether Rivers will be eligible to suit up for Sunday remains unresolved. If the team moves him from the practice squad to the active roster, that transaction would have immediate roster and Hall of Fame ramifications. Indianapolis coaches are weighing short-term needs against roster mechanics and long-term planning for the remainder of the season.
Analysis & Implications
Short-term, Rivers provides experience and a low-risk option to stabilize a team suddenly bereft of healthy quarterbacks. At 44, Rivers is no longer a long-term answer, but his knowledge of pro systems and history with Steichen can simplify the transition if he must play. For a team chasing wins in a tight stretch, that veteran pocket presence matters more than future upside.
Strategically, adding Rivers to the practice squad buys the Colts time to evaluate options and manage the active roster under NFL rules. Practice-squad protection and elevation procedures allow teams to tap bench quarterbacks without immediately committing a 53-man roster spot. That flexibility is valuable while front offices research shorter- and longer-term plans — trade, free-agent pickup or emergency elevation.
There is a reputational and legacy angle: Rivers is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026. NFL/Pro Football Hall of Fame procedures mean a player who returns to active play can alter the timeline of eligibility; if the Colts sign him to the active roster, his current semifinalist standing would be reset. That creates a personal calculation for Rivers and a public-interest storyline beyond the immediate roster need.
Comparison & Data
| Player | 2025 Status | Injury/Note | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Jones | Out | Torn Achilles (suffered Sunday) | Out for season |
| Anthony Richardson | Out | Orbital fracture (pregame accident) | Out |
| Riley Leonard | Questionable | Knee injury (from loss to Jaguars) | Week 15 uncertain |
| Philip Rivers | Signing to practice squad (reported) | Retired after 2020; in high-school coaching | Practice-squad status; game availability TBD |
The table summarizes the Colts’ QB-to-injury picture entering the final month of the regular season. With Indianapolis at 8-5 and four games remaining, the club’s options narrow as the quarterback pool shrinks. Rivers’ reported practice-squad addition is a structural move to replenish depth and provide a known quantity in meetings and practice reps.
Reactions & Quotes
Multiple outlets reported Rivers is joining the Colts’ practice squad after Monday’s workout.
NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk (media)
Reports confirm Daniel Jones sustained a torn Achilles and will miss the remainder of the season; Anthony Richardson remains sidelined with an orbital fracture.
NBC Sports / ProFootballTalk (media)
Unconfirmed
- Whether Rivers will be elevated from the practice squad to the active roster before Sunday is not confirmed.
- Exact timing and terms of any contract (length, guarantees) have not been publicly released as of initial reports.
- Medical clearance status and how many practice repetitions Rivers will take before potential game activation remain unspecified.
Bottom Line
The Colts’ reported signing of Philip Rivers to the practice squad is a pragmatic response to an acute quarterback shortage: it supplies experience, reduces immediate risk and gives the coaching staff a steadying presence in meetings and practices. For Indianapolis, the move is about game-to-game survival in a season that still offers playoff opportunity at 8-5.
For Rivers, the decision balances competitive drive, personal legacy and practical reality. If he remains on the practice squad, this is a short-term depth solution; if elevated, it would carry roster consequences and reset his Hall of Fame timeline. Fans and analysts should watch the transaction window and official roster moves closely over the next days.