Philip Rivers’ retirement may be short-lived.
The eight-time Pro Bowl quarterback, who turned 44 on Monday, is being brought in by the Colts for a workout on Tuesday and could be signed, according to multiple reports.
News of the workout comes 24 hours after Colts QB Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles tear during Indianapolis’ 36-19 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday, and after the team revealed rookie QB Riley Leonard is week-to-week with a knee injury of his own.
Rivers hadn’t played since 2020 and had only officially retired from the NFL in July.
Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) walks off the field after throwing an interception during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. AP
NFL Network reported that the workout would help see if he would join the Colts’ practice squad, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggested there was still a question of whether Rivers even wants to play again.
“While the Colts need to work out Philip Rivers to see what type of shape he is in, the former quarterback who is now a grandfather also needs to figure out whether he’s willing to play, per source. For now he’s clearly intrigued enough to fly to Indianapolis,” Schefter reported on social media.
He had played one season with the Colts during his 17-year NFL career, spending the other 16 with the Chargers organization.
In his one season with the Colts in 2020, Rivers helped Indy reach the playoffs before getting eliminated in the Wild Card round by the Bills.
Philip Rivers #17 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to pass in the second quarter during their game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 29, 2020. Getty Images
He also threw for 4,169 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2020, but that was five years ago and it’s unclear where his skills may still be.
Since then, he has been coaching high school football at St. Michael Catholic in Alabama.
Rivers’ connection to the Colts goes beyond just his one season there.
Current head coach Shane Steichen was the quarterbacks coach for the Chargers from 2016 to 2019 and the interim offensive coordinator in 2019.