Philip Rivers is playing for the Colts again because the team had a quarterback injury crisis late in the 2025 season and needed an experienced emergency option.
Colts injury situation
The Colts lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon, leaving a major hole at the position. At the same time, backup Riley Leonard has been dealing with a knee injury, and Anthony Richardson is on injured reserve, leaving the depth chart thin heading into the final games.
Why Rivers specifically
Rivers already knows the Colts organization and offensive concepts after starting for them in 2020, and he has past experience with head coach Shane Steichen from their time together with the Chargers. That familiarity made him a plug‑and‑play veteran the team believes can keep them competitive and support a late-season playoff push.
