Indy is dealing with a big injury issue at quarterback. They may turn to a veteran of the league, who’s been retired for half a decade.

INDIANAPOLIS — Philip Rivers, 44, has been out of the league so long that he was in the running for the Pro Football Hall of Fame – a distinction only allowed to players who have been retired for five or more years. But now one of the Texans’ biggest rivals – a team they’re competing with for a playoff spot – could have him under center during the season’s home stretch.

We’re talking about the Colts – a team dealing with a big injury issue at quarterback. Indy is signing Rivers to their practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and the Associated Press.

Rivers is joining the Colts organization at a critical juncture of the season. After a torrid start, the Colts have lost three straight and find themselves tied with Houston for second place in the AFC South at 8-5. Both teams trail the 9-4 Jacksonville Jaguars by one game.  All three teams have four games left in the regular season, including the season finale between the Colts and Texans at NRG Stadium.


But why Philip Rivers?

The main reason may be desperation. Starter Daniel Jones is done for the season with an Achilles tear. Backup Riley Leonard is dealing with a knee injury.

On top of that, former Houston Texans star and current CBS NFL analyst JJ Watt has a theory on why Rivers could be the Colts’ man.  In a post to X on Tuesday, Watt said, “Fun Fact learned in production meetings: Philip Rivers ran the same offense as the Colts for his son Gunnar’s HS team this season. He and Shane Steichen spoke weekly about it, discussing plays and even film. So familiarity with the scheme should be no problem whatsoever.”

Fun Fact learned in production meetings:

Philip Rivers ran the same offense as the Colts for his son Gunnar’s HS team this season.

He and Shane Steichen spoke weekly about it, discussing plays and even film.

So familiarity with the scheme should be no problem whatsoever.

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) December 9, 2025

As of now, Rivers has just been added to the Colts’ practice squad while the team sorts out its QB situation, but he could be under center on an NFL field soon.  And that means he could be the quarterback when the Texans take on the Colts in the last game of the season — a time that a trip to the playoffs may still be on the line for both teams.


How would this affect Philip Rivers and the Hall of Fame?

By joining the Colts’ practice squad, he would still be eligible for the Hall of Fame, according to NFL.com. Right now, he’s one of 26 semifinalists. But if the Colts move him up to the active roster, that five-year clock resets again, and he’d be taken off the ballot.


What to know about Philip Rivers

Rivers was the fourth pick overall in the 2004 draft out of North Carolina State. For his career, he’s 5,277 of 8,134 for 63,440 yards with 421 touchdowns and 209 interceptions. He ranks 7th all-time in passing yardage.

He played 16 of his 17 NFL seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers before his final season in 2020 with the Colts.

He is a father of 10 and grandfather of one, according to People magazine. If he does end up on the active roster, he wouldn’t be the first grandfather to play in the NFL. Brett Favre also has that distinction. He became a grandfather while playing for the Vikings, according to ESPN.  

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