Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard isn't afraid to bring in aging quarterbacks. He signed Joe Flacco last season, and the GM has had Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers play behind center, too. Rivers and Ryan weren't at their peak, but weren't completely awful, either. But one of them might not yet be done.
Rivers is now a grandfather who hasn't played since 2020. That was the year he spent with Indy, and he led the team to the playoffs. The issue was that it was five seasons ago, Rivers is now 44 years old, and certainly cannot be in football shape.
According to multiple reports, however, Indy is inviting Rivers in for a visit on Tuesday. If he shows up in shape and truly wants to play, Indianapolis very well could sign him and immediately make him the starting quarterback.
Indianapolis Colts reportedly taking a visit with Philip Rivers to solve quarterback issue
Also of note, Rivers turned 44 on December 8, so maybe he is taking the trip as a birthday present to himself. He would also know he has just four games to play the rest of the season, and hopefully, whatever punishment his body takes won't be much. That would be the hope.
The problem started, of course, with starter Daniel Jones getting further injured (he was already playing with a broken fibula) in Week 14 and tearing his Achilles tendon on his other leg. He will miss the rest of the season and likely much of next year, too. He might not even play another down for the Colts, as he is set for free agency in 2026.
His backup, due to Anthony Richardson breaking an orbital bone earlier in the season, was rookie Riley Leonard. Leonard, however, hurt his knee after replacing Jones, and is iffy to play in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. That could leave Brett Rypien as the starter.
The Indianapolis Colts began the year 7-1 and atop the AFC. After a slide that has seen the team lose four of five games, Indianapolis is 8-5 and in third place in the AFC South. Philip Rivers is extremely unlikely to come in, right the ship immediately against four good teams that the Colts have to play, and lead Indy to the postseason.
The wiser move would be to let Rypien, who has 11 starts in his career, play simply because he is a lot more starter-ready than Philip Rivers is. In fact, Rivers' coming back only delays his likely Pro Football Hall of Fame induction. What he really risks is his health based on the bad luck the Indianapolis Colts have had all season.