The Indianapolis Colts have hands down had the worst luck of any team in the NFL through the opening two weeks of training camp.
We’ll refrain from going through the laundry list of setbacks and distractions, but the one that sticks out like a sore thumb is Carson Wentz’s injury. We’ll throw Quenton Nelson’s foot injury in there as an honorable mention, but we all know how important the quarterback position is.
In devastating news, Wentz underwent foot surgery this week and his expected recovery timetable is between 5-12 weeks, which is extremely open-ended, and fans will be hoping the former No. 2 overall pick falls closer to the 5-8 week range than anything else.
So, how are the Colts planning to manage life without Wentz? The latest reports makes it seem like they’d be comfortable starting Jacob Eason out of the gate.
However, it might behoove GM Chris Ballard to get an old friend on the phone. No, we’re not talking about Andrew Luck. Rather, Philip Rivers told Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday that he’d consider returning to the NFL if a team was desperate for QB help.
How about this: Former #Chargers & #Colts QB Philip Rivers told @LATimesfarmer that he's not shutting the door on returning to the NFL for late-season stint if a team needs him. Rivers said he's currently focused on coaching high school football, but the door is still open.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 3, 2021
Colts GM Chris Ballard needs to call Philip Rivers right now.
Let’s hope Ballard has already consulted Rivers about a potential reunion, because the Colts’ playoff hopes could come crashing down if they get off to a slow start.
It’s been reiterated countless times since their 2021 schedule was announced, but Indy will start the campaign against the Seahawks, Rams, Titans, Dolphins and Ravens, each of whom notched double-digit wins a season ago. The latter three matchups will come on the road, too.
There’s a chance Wentz, if his rehab falls closer to the 12-week timeframe, could miss all those contests. Is Eason, who basically red-shirted as a rookie last year and hasn’t taken a preseason snap yet, capable of treading water during that gauntlet of an opening five weeks?
With all due respect, probably not. If that doesn’t further incentivize Ballard to call Rivers and persuade him to put his high school coaching career on hold and return to Indianapolis on a reasonable one-year deal, then nothing will.
The bottom line is Rivers would be a better fit than all of the Colts’ alternative options, which include Marcus Mariota, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Nick Foles. Not only is Rivers familiar with the playbook, but he was excellent for a large sample size last season after a rough start.
Philip Rivers has not ruled out returning to the NFL, per @LATimesfarmer.
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) August 3, 2021
Should #Colts make the call? 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/xSUSjeMIz3
For the year, Rivers completed 68% of his passes for 4,169 yards (260.6 per game), and 24 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions. He averaged a respectable 7.7 yards per attempt and compiled a 97.0 passer rating while leading Indy to the playoffs with an 11-5 record.
There’s no reason to overthink this. The Colts have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, and they can’t afford to tank the season if they get off to an awful start.
Call Rivers to hold down the fort until Wentz is ready. Please.
Colts odds to win AFC South take major hit after Carson Wentz injury news
The Indianapolis Colts' odds to win the AFC South have plummeted following the Carson Wentz injury update released Monday afternoon.