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Philip Rivers stepped away from the NFL following the 2020 season. He appeared in 16 games that year in what, until recently, marked his only season with the Indianapolis Colts.
Five years later, a season-ending injury to Colts starter Daniel Jones led Rivers’ former team to call him about putting his retirement on hold. Rivers, 44, signed to Indy’s practice squad this week.
Until recently, Rivers said he believed his football story was already completely written.
“I had no hope of playing again. I thought the ship had sailed,” said Rivers, who played 16 seasons for the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers before joining the Colts in 2020, and again this week.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers on the sidelines during the game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Dec. 6, 2020. (Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports)
“But something excited me. It’s one of those deals where a door opens, you walk through it and find out if you can do it, or you run away from it. I know it’s a risk, but the only way to find out is to try.”
Rivers added that he was watching the Colts game at the time Jones fell to the turf. He admitted that it crossed his mind that he might eventually get a call from Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen.
COLTS’ DANIEL JONES HITS HELMET IN FRUSTRATION WHILE SUFFERING LARGE ACHILLES INJURY
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers warms up before playing against the Buffalo Bills in an AFC wild card game in Buffalo on Jan. 9, 2021. (Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports)
“When that happened, in my mind I thought, ‘What the hell?’ “How crazy this would be at the quarterback position, I have to admit I thought, ‘I wonder if Shane is going to call,'” Rivers said. “Immediately, the competitor in you gets excited.”
Rivers, an eight-time Pro-Bowler, has long worn No. 17 and will continue to do so in his second stint with the Colts, courtesy of Jones.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) warms up before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on November 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
“I saw the injury live. I feel really bad for Daniel,” Rivers said. “I texted Daniel saying he had been so kind to the 17. That was meaningful to me.”
The Colts’ injury crisis was compounded by uncertainty over the health of quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr.
Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was placed on injured reserve in October after suffering an orbital fracture during a pregame warmup.
The Colts visit the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday in Week 15 action.
