The Indianapolis Colts have made a surprising move by signing veteran quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad. This decision comes as a bit of a shock, considering Rivers' illustrious career and the team's recent struggles with quarterback injuries. But here's where it gets interesting: Rivers' addition could be a strategic move to address the team's immediate needs while also keeping an eye on the future.
Rivers, a 44-year-old quarterback, has an impressive resume. He spent 17 years in the NFL, primarily with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2004-2019) and the Colts (2020). Over his career, he has completed 64.9% of his passes, amassing 63,440 passing yards and 421 touchdowns. In NFL history, he ranks seventh in passing yards and sixth in passing touchdowns. Rivers is an eight-time Pro Bowler and has consistently thrown for over 4,000 yards in 12 of his 15 seasons as a full-time starting quarterback, including his time with the Colts in 2020 (4,169 passing yards).
What's more, Rivers has a strong connection with the Colts' current head coach, Shane Steichen. Steichen worked closely with Rivers during his time with the Chargers, serving as an offensive quality control coach, quarterbacks coach, and offensive coordinator. This familiarity could be a significant advantage for the Colts as they navigate their current quarterback challenges.
Rivers also has a personal connection to the Colts' current quarterback, Riley Leonard. He has been working with Leonard leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, where the Colts selected Leonard in the sixth round. Rivers lives in Leonard's hometown of Fairhope, Alabama, and is the head football coach at St. Michael Catholic High School. He recently led the Cardinals to the third round of the Alabama 4A state playoffs.
However, Rivers' addition to the practice squad has a catch. If he is elevated to the active roster for a game, his clock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame will reset, and he won't be eligible again until the Class of 2031. This means that while he could provide immediate help to the Colts, it might also delay his potential Hall of Fame induction.
The Colts have had a rough go of it this season, dealing with several quarterback injuries. Starter Daniel Jones played through a fibula injury before sustaining a season-ending torn Achilles against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Backup Anthony Richardson has been on injured reserve since sustaining a fractured orbital bone in a freak accident before the Colts' Week 6 win over the Arizona Cardinals. Richardson won't be activated from injured reserve this week, and Jones was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday.
Despite these challenges, the Colts are hoping that Rivers can provide some stability and leadership in the quarterback room. With Leonard dealing with a knee injury, the team is in need of experienced guidance, and Rivers' presence could help fill that void. The Colts have altered their practice schedule this week, swapping a weekly walkthrough for a practice session as they prepare for this week's game against the Seattle Seahawks.
In addition to Rivers' signing, the Colts made several other roster moves, including placing cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. on injured reserve and signing kicker Blake Grupe and quarterback Brett Rypien to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. While Rivers' addition is a surprising move, it's clear that the Colts are doing everything they can to address their quarterback issues and prepare for the rest of the season.
