Philip Rivers trades retirement for Indianapolis Colts return

• An Achilles tear suffered Sunday against Jacksonville has sidelined starter Daniel Jones for the rest of the season, and No. 2 option Anthony Richardson Sr. remains on injured reserve with a broken orbital bone.
• Rookie and current starter Riley Leonard is also questionable going into Week 15 because of right knee issues.

Driving the news: ESPN and the Associated Press report that Rivers, who retired from the NFL in 2021 after 17 seasons, is a Colt again after working out with the team this week.

• His potential role for Sunday's game against the Seahawks remains unclear. If Leonard can't go, the team could put the ball in the hands of Rivers or fellow practice squad member Brett Rypien.
• As of Tuesday afternoon, the team hadn't made any official announcements regarding Rivers.

Fun fact: Monday was Rivers' 44th birthday, making the eight-time Pro Bowler and recent grandfather the oldest player in today's NFL.

Catch up quick: Rivers spent a single season with the Colts in 2020, leading the team to a 11-5 record and the postseason where they lost to the Bills in the Wild Card round.

• Before that, he spent 16 years with the Chargers and became an all-time franchise great.

• After retiring from the NFL in early 2021 to begin his career as head coach of the St. Michael Catholic High School football team in Alabama, he signed a one-day contract in July 2025 to formally retire as a Charger.

State of play: Rivers is also in the running for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2026.

Yes, but: If he goes from the Colts practice squad to the active roster, his eligibility clock would reset and another five-year wait would begin.