The Indianapolis Colts’ 2025 season took a major hit Sunday when quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a torn Achilles in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. With an 8–5 record, the AFC South title and a playoff berth still within reach, Indianapolis is turning to a familiar face: former starter Philip Rivers.
The Colts are signing the 44-year-old Rivers to their practice squad, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones. Rivers worked out for the team on Tuesday, and the Colts felt confident enough to bring him aboard. Just weeks after being named a Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist, Rivers is putting any induction hopes on hold for a stunning return.
Rivers joins a reshaped quarterback room led by rookie Riley Leonard and veteran Brett Rypien. Leonard is expected to start with Anthony Richardson still on IR, but the rookie is nursing a knee injury, leaving his status for Sunday’s matchup against the Seattle Seahawks uncertain.
If Rivers does take the field, he would become only the fifth quarterback in NFL history to start a game at age 44 or older, joining Tom Brady, Vinny Testaverde, Warren Moon and Steve DeBerg. It has been nearly five years—1,800 days—since Rivers last played in an NFL game.
Rivers’ most recent season was in 2020, when he led Indianapolis to an 11–5 record and a playoff appearance, throwing for 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The former No. 4 overall pick spent 16 of his 17 NFL seasons with the Chargers, making eight Pro Bowls and compiling a 134–106 career record. He ranks seventh all-time in passing yards (63,440) and sixth in touchdown passes (421).
Whether Rivers takes meaningful snaps again remains to be seen, but for a Colts team fighting to stay afloat, an NFL comeback nearly half a decade in the making is suddenly on the table.
