How the Colts signed Philip Rivers out of NFL retirement - ESPN

Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen was still processing the devastating loss of starting quarterback Daniel Jones when he was blindsided by another QB injury.

Monday morning — in the aftermath of a consequential loss at the Jacksonville Jaguars in which Jones sustained a torn right Achilles tendon — backup signal-caller Riley Leonard reported to work with a sore right knee from the previous day's game. Now, Leonard's status was in question.

A few hours later, Steichen shared the news with reporters.

«He came in with the knee [injury] this morning, so we're working through that right now,» Steichen said, admitting he didn't have many answers to follow-up questions about Leonard.

What Steichen didn't say is that he already had set in motion a possible move that would stun the NFL. Long-retired quarterback Philip Rivers, a close friend of Steichen and one of the most productive quarterbacks in league history, was in talks with the Colts about joining the roster as an emergency option. By that point, Rivers — celebrating his 44th birthday — already had agreed to work out for the team.

Roughly 24 hours later, the Colts signed Rivers to their practice squad, making him available to play, if necessary, as early as this Sunday at the Seattle Seahawks (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS). Rivers, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and recent grandfather who hasn't played since 2020, immediately becomes the NFL's oldest player even as he tries to turn back the clock.

How did it all come together? What options did the Colts weigh? And how did they arrive at their final decision? Interviews with team sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, painted a clearer picture of one of this season's most shocking transactions.

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