Stephen HolderDec 8, 2025, 07:17 PM ET
- Stephen joined ESPN in 2022, covering the Indianapolis Colts and NFL at large. Stephen finished first place in column writing in the 2015 Indiana Associated Press Media Editors competition, and he is a previous top-10 winner in explanatory journalism in the Associated Press Sports Editors national contest. He has chronicled the NFL since 2005, covering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2005-2013 and the Colts since 2013. He has previously worked for the Miami Herald, Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and The Athletic.
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts' quarterback saga has taken another twist.
With starter Daniel Jones out for the season with a torn right Achilles and backup Riley Leonard dealing with a knee injury, the Colts could, shockingly, turn to retired NFL great Philip Rivers as a possible emergency solution.
Indianapolis will host Rivers, who last played in the NFL in 2020 with the Colts, for a work out on Tuesday, sources confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter. A decision on signing Rivers has not yet been made, while Rivers himself has yet to decide whether he would be willing to play, a source said.
While it's unclear if Rivers is in football shape after being away from the game for so long, he would have intimate knowledge of the Colts' offensive scheme and would be a seamless addition in terms of working with head coach Shane Steichen. The two worked closely together during Steichen's days as the Los Angeles Chargers' offensive coordinator before Rivers' one season with the Colts.
Whether Rivers is a viable option remains to be seen. But the Colts believe his familiarity could give them a realistic chance. Monday is Rivers' 44th birthday.
His final season with the Colts in 2020 was impressive. The team finished 11-5 with Rivers under center, making the playoffs as an AFC wildcard. They lost to the Buffalo Bills in a first-round game and, several weeks later, Rivers decided to walk away from the NFL. No Colts team since that 2020 squad has averaged more passing yards than the 253.3 per game produced with Rivers at the controls.
Indianapolis won four of its last five games that season to clinch a playoff spot. And Rivers delivered throughout the season, completing 68% of his pass attempts and throwing 24 touchdown passes.
The exploration of a Rivers signing is an indicator of the Colts' desperate situation. Jones had been enjoying a rejuvenating season in his first season in Indianapolis, but he had struggled amid a left fibula stress fracture in recent games. Then, Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jones tore his right Achilles in a non-contact injury.
That left Leonard to finish the game and, presumably, the season. But Steichen said Leonard, a sixth-round pick from Notre Dame, reported an unspecified knee issue to the team's medical staff Monday morning. A source later told ESPN's Adam Schefter that Leonard has a strained knee ligament and is considered week-to-week. The Colts said it was unclear whether Leonard would be available for Sunday's road game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The Colts (8-5), are sitting just outside the AFC playoff field, losing a tiebreaker for the final spot with the Houston Texans. They have four games remaining in their regular season, against the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars and Texans.
NFL Network first reported the Colts' interest in Rivers.
