The Indianapolis Colts are fighting desperately to keep their once-promising 2025 campaign alive. After a red-hot start to the season, the Colts have begun to fall apart, thanks in large part to injuries. Unsurprisingly, the torn Achilles tendon that quarterback Daniel Jones suffered has proven to be the most consequential injury of the bunch, and it forced the team to scramble to find a proper replacement for him.
In one of the most surprising moves in recent NFL memory, retired quarterback Philip Rivers ended up being the answer under center for Indianapolis. Chances are, Rivers wasn’t Indy’s first choice, but desperate times call for desperate measures. And while Rivers didn’t lead the team to victory in Week 15, the team has loved what it has seen from the 44-year-old passer to this point.
Colts’ True Feelings on Philip Rivers, Revealed
After beating out Anthony Richardson for the starting quarterback job over the summer, Jones turned himself into a star for the Colts this season. In 13 games, Jones threw for 3,101 yards and 19 touchdowns, while also rushing for 164 yards and five more scores. Injuries caught up to Jones, though, as he was battling through a small fracture in his fibula before he suffered his aforementioned Achilles injury.
With Jones and Richardson on injured reserve due to an orbital fracture he suffered back in October, that forced sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard into action immediately after Jones’ injury. Even though their playoff hopes were fading, the Colts wanted to continue making a playoff push, which led to Rivers deciding to unretire, despite being out of the league for nearly five full years.
Rivers looked like a 44-year-old quarterback who hadn’t played in the NFL for several years against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15, as he threw for 120 yards and one touchdown, but he also tossed a game-ending interception late in the fourth quarter. While he’s certainly not the most normal option to replace Jones, it seems like the team is thrilled with what it has gotten from Rivers so far.
“In less than 14 days, I’m told, Rivers has won over the entire building,” Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported. “’He controls the entire game,’ one Colts staffer told me. ‘He’s a locker room leader. We all love him.’”
Philip Rivers Looking to Keep Colts’ Playoff Hopes Alive in Week 16
GettySEATTLE, WASHINGTON – DECEMBER 14: Philip Rivers #17 of the Indianapolis Colts attempts a pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Lumen Field on December 14, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
At this stage of the game, the Colts essentially need to win out, while also getting help from several other teams, if they want any shot of finding their way into the postseason. It doesn’t help that some difficult games await them, especially as Rivers continues to find his footing after spending such a lengthy period of time away from the field.
All Indy can do is focus on winning its upcoming game. In Week 16, that will see them square off against the San Francisco 49ers in what figures to be a very difficult contest. With a loss, the Colts would essentially be eliminated from playoff contention, so it’s clear that the stakes are going to be very high for Rivers and company when they return to action for this Monday Night Football matchup.
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