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All signs point to Philip Rivers, 44, starting for the Indianapolis Colts in their first NFL game since the 2020 season on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
While the Colts and their fan base didn’t have that on their bingo card this season, it’s the reality after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury and as rookie Riley Leonard deals with a knee ailment this week.
Rivers joins a Colts team chasing an AFC playoff berth, sitting one game out of the lead in the AFC South behind the Jacksonville Jaguars, who they lost to in Week 14. As things stand today, the Colts are No. 8 in the AFC, with only seven teams making it out of each conference.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) warms up Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, during practice at the Colts’ training facility in Indianapolis. (Image)
So while some doubt Rivers, the 17-year veteran who ranks seventh all-time in NFL passing yards, can do the job for Indy, one of his receivers from the 2020 season believes he can.
Michael Pittman Jr.’s first NFL quarterback was Rivers after joining the Colts during the 2020 season, when the signal-caller led the team to an 11-5 record. After seeing him in the building again this week, Pittman couldn’t help but describe Rivers as someone who still has “that same fire.”
“Phil is the same guy,” Pittman said, while discussing his partnership with Oral-B, the official toothbrush of the NFL. “I don’t really see much difference from our 2020 season, and he’s excited. He’s ready to go. So I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t really think anyone knows, but we’ll be ready for whatever happens.”
PHILIP RIVERS ACCEPTS NFL RETURN AS QB AFTER RETURN TO COLTS: ‘I THOUGHT THAT SHIP HAD SAILED’
It makes sense that Rivers has his fair share of skeptics. He hasn’t seen NFL action in five seasons and was never the most mobile quarterback anyway, which he joked about during his media session on Wednesday.
But Pittman believes football fans are overlooking a key aspect of this. Colts head coach Shane Steichen’s offense was born with the San Diego Chargers before they moved to Los Angeles.
“When you look back, Philip really helped invent this offensive scheme if you go back to Shane’s history and when he was a young coach,” Pittman explained, referring to Steichen’s six years as the Chargers’ quarterbacks coach alongside Rivers. “It really came up in the same offense that Philip has been running his entire career.
“If we’re going to get a player, and that’s what people overlook. This offense was created by Philip Rivers, so he’s one of the perfect guys to go out and get. His mind is very sharp and he still has the same fire.”
Michael Pittman Jr. (11) of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates with quarterback Philip Rivers (17) during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders on December 13, 2020 in Las Vegas. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Rivers’ brain processing on the field has always been strong, which is why he lasted so long in the league. But that internal drive and hunger for competition is what Pittman is also seeing early on in practice.
“He said the word ‘stinky’ probably 100 times when he was giving his speech, and I could tell he really cares,” Pittman said, laughing. “He wouldn’t reinstate his Hall of Fame if he didn’t really care about this.”
Of course, the “Dadgummit!” Rivers patented. It’s not what Pittman wants to hear over the next four games if the Colts start him at quarterback. It was something Pittman admitted he heard a lot during his rookie year, but he has blossomed into the talent many thought he would be in the NFL.
We’ll see if the Colts make it official later this week, but Pittman couldn’t have more confidence in Rivers if he gets the call.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) drops back to pass Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, during practice at the Colts’ training complex in Indianapolis. (IMAGE)
PERFECT CLEAN, PERFECT GAME
Pittman partnered with Oral-B, which was recently named the official toothbrush of the NFL, and recorded fun content featuring beloved Colts mascot Blue.
Pittman and Blue were trying to clean their pearly whites with the new iO Series electric toothbrush, and while Blue is known for his jiggling belly during games, he also had a giant set of teeth to clean right before the game.
As someone who never deviates from his game day routine, he starts by brushing his teeth first and foremost in the morning.
“Smile is everything,” Pittman said. “With Oral-B being the official toothbrush of the NFL, I felt like it was the perfect partner because they give you the perfect clean so you can play the perfect game with their Series IO toothbrush that they just released. It does all the work for you, so it couldn’t be easier.”
