The Indianapolis Colts didn't face a must-win situation in Week 14. Those games are truly meant for whether a team's playoff hopes are made real or whether they are completely dashed. Instead, Indy played a game that had an even more dire effect on the rest of the season.
Quarterback Daniel Jones, already playing with a broken fibula on his left leg, tore the Achilles tendon on his right leg and will be out 9-12 months. He obviously is out for the rest of this season, but he could not be available for next season, either. Backup Riley Leonard took his place and played three quarters against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The issue is that Leonard hurt his knee late in the game and is iffy for Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. The Colts have to make a quarterback move even though Brett Rypien is on the practice squad. That move might mean signing long-retired Philip Rivers, who reportedly visited Indianapolis on Monday.
Indianapolis Colts potentially signing Philip Rivers could mean more than meets the eye
Rivers hasn't played since 2020, which was his only season with the Colts. He retired after the season, so if he were to return, he would clearly be rusty. Plus, by the end of his career, his arm strength was diminishing, and he was never the best runner.
But there may be more to the Philip Rivers visiting Indy story. The move might simply be one where general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen want to give Leonard all the help possible. In an odd way, if Rivers signs, it could mean Leonard is healthy enough to play in Week 15.
Leonard and Rivers have a history of working together. The two quarterbacks' families live fairly close together in Alabama, and the older quarterback has mentored the younger one. That includes Rivers helping Leonard with the pre-draft process earlier this year, before the Indianapolis Colts chose Leonard in the sixth round.
Indy might indeed sign Philip Rivers, but it might not be for the obvious reason of the retired quarterback coming to the Colts to be the immediate starter. Instead, Rivers might be more of a glorified coach, based on his previous experience with Riley Leonard.
If Leonard's knee won't allow him to play in Week 15, and Rivers signs, then Indy might have a real question of who to start: Rivers or Brett Rypien. Neither is much of a great choice against a very good Seahawks defense.