The Indianapolis Colts officially have a new quarterback.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Philip Rivers will start Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, even though backup QB Riley Leonard (knee) doesn’t carry an injury designation.
“The Colts will start QB Philip Rivers on Sunday against the Seahawks, sources tell The Insiders. Age 44, out of retirement, after a full week of practice, Rivers is a go,” Rapoport wrote on X.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen is going to roll with the veteran even after five years out of the league.
Philip Rivers could be getting himself into dangerous territory
Rivers’ comeback is one of the biggest storylines of the season, but it can all go south pretty quickly. He never relied on his mobility to be efficient, but he’s been away from the game for way too long.
According to Team Rankings, the Seattle Seahawks average the fourth-most sacks per game in the league this season (3.2). At least, the Colts’ offensive line ranks eighth in PFSN’s Impact Metric, and they’ve given up just 23 sacks in 14 games, ranking 10th in the league in that regard.
Rivers looked sharp in his final season in 2020, leading the Colts to the playoffs with 4,169 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 16 games. He went out with a bang, completing 27 of 46 attempts for 309 yards with two touchdowns in the 2020 AFC wild-card loss against the Buffalo Bills.
However, it’s been a long time since that game, and hopefully, Sunday’s matchup with one of the league’s most bruising teams won’t be an ugly reminder of why he may have been better off coaching in high school.