If an Indianapolis Colts fan was told before the bye week that the best quarterback available to play for them in Week 15 was 44-year-old Philip Rivers, they probably would have said that they had a better chance of winning the lottery than that statement coming true. The thing is, Week 15 is here, and Philip Rivers is one of only two healthy quarterbacks on Indy's roster.
It's been reported that Rivers and Colts head coach Shane Steichen have been keeping in close touch about football throughout his retirement. In fact, Steichen and Rivers would talk weekly about the Colts' current scheme before his signing, an offense that apparently Rivers also implemented in his high school coaching job for his son's team.
The question of Philip Rivers' knowledge of the offense really isn't a question at all. Having been close to Steichen for years and going over the offense together, it's probably true that Rivers already knows the offense better than rookie quarterback Riley Leonard.
Philip Rivers will wear his iconic number 17 for the Colts while Daniel Jones is on IR
However, that's not the burning question on everyone's mind. What Colts fans are dying to know is, with Daniel Jones wearing 17, what number will Rivers wear? Luckily for curious fans, that question has already been answered.
Really, was there ever any other option? For the most legendary quarterbacks that the NFL has ever seen, the numbers that they wear become synonymous with their brand. Tom Brady would never switch from 12, just like Ben Roethlisberger would never wear another number than seven.
Rivers may not be the greatest quarterback of all time like Tom Brady is, but he is a Hall of Fame talent in his own right. In fact, by signing with the Colts, he may have actually reset the timer for his eventual Hall of Fame candidacy. That's not the sacrifice that a man who doesn't show up to compete makes.
Luckily for both Rivers and Jones, Indy is allowed to have two players wear 17 while one of them is on IR. Time will tell how this bizarre scenario plays out for the Colts, but it could turn out that Rivers might have enough of a mental sharpness to overcome his physical limitations.
With a strong run game spearheaded by one of the best running backs in the NFL, Rivers won't have to shoulder all of the burden. Still, that doesn't change the fact that in Week 15 the team will face one of the best teams in the NFL in the Seattle Seahawks. It's a game that Indy almost has to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, and with any luck, Rivers may just be able to pull it off.
This whole number situation can best be summed up by one of the NFL's greatest legends. As the charismatic Deion Sanders once said, "If you look good, you feel good. If you feel good, you play good." Hopefully, wearing his old number will inspire Rivers to help the team win in Week 15.