Colts QB Philip Rivers’ toe injury should worry fans amid playoff push

Could Philip Rivers’ toe affect his performance with the Colts for the rest of 2020?

Indianapolis Colts QB Philip Rivers has been dealing with a toe injury that has kept him out of practice a few times over the last couple of weeks. Leading up to the Week 13 game against the Houston Texans, Rivers missed Wednesday’s practice and was limited on Thursday before getting full reps on Friday.

Could this turf toe issue significant affect him the rest of the way? We know he’s probably the most sedentary pocket passer in the NFL right now, so it’s not like he’s using his feet to constantly get himself out of trouble, but this latest report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport could concern Colts fans.

Rivers will reportedly likely need surgery to repair the injury in the offseason, which has to mean it’s a pressing issue for the 17-year veteran moving forward.

Another question: does this change the Colts’ plans in terms of potentially bringing Rivers back to Indy if they don’t find a quarterback of the future they prefer in free agency or the draft? The former first-round pick will be 40 years old in 2021 and we’re just not sure the front office would heavily invest in Rivers again if he’s coming off surgery.

But forget about next year. Rapoport said this is a “pretty serious injury” Rivers is dealing with, which has to raise concerns about the team’s playoff outlook right now. Indy is 7-4 heading into a division matchup with the Texans and do not own the tiebreaker should they keep pace with the Tennessee Titans.

The Colts are going to need everyone atop their game down the stretch because they’ll be facing the red hot Deshaun Watson twice as well as the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers and the Las Vegas Raiders, who are also a fringe playoff team in the AFC. The next month will hardly be easy.

Colts insider Joel A. Erickson threw some cold water Rapoport’s claim and said that surgery has not been determined yet (which is why Rapoport said “likely”), but what’s more of a concern is the status of Indy’s playoff push with Rivers a bit hobbled.

Fans already don’t enjoy seeing Rivers throw over 35 times a game, so the coaching staff better have a plan to administer a balanced offensive attack if he’s unable to fully and effectively use his plant foot (his right foot has the toe injury) when making passes.

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