Philip Rivers’ brief comeback is over 鈥� and apparently so is his career. Again.
The 44-year-old quarterback who came out of retirement to try and lead the Indianapolis Colts back to the playoffs three weeks ago will not start Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans and of his 18-year NFL career.
Coach Shane Steichen announced Wednesday, as expected, by rookie Riley Leonard in the Colts’ season finale Sunday at Houston.
鈥淚 think it just made the most sense for all involved to get Riley in there and let him get some work,鈥� Rivers said. “I know he鈥檚 been preparing and working all year. Now he鈥檚 going to get a shot to go out there and we鈥檙e all pulling for him.鈥�
Rivers will likely be the emergency quarterback while Seth Henigan serves as the backup.
鈥淗e鈥檚 going to finish this thing out and be a mentor to Riley and obviously, being from the same hometown as Riley in Fairhope, he鈥檚 excited for that, and scout team and battle like crazy with the guys, but grateful for the three weeks that he came back,鈥� Steichen said. “Means a lot to a lot of guys in this locker room.鈥�
Indy (8-8) lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, one day after the Texans beat Rivers’ former team, the Los Angeles Chargers, to eliminate the Colts from the playoff race. Later Sunday, Rivers acknowledged he understood the circumstances and would support whatever direction the Colts went.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of emotions there,鈥� Steichen said. “Being 44 years old and coming out of this thing healthy is a blessing for him too, as well. So, he鈥檚 grateful for that. And like he said, he wouldn鈥檛 change anything. Coming back out here with the guys and battling, it鈥檚 been an honor and a privilege.鈥�
While Rivers went 0-3 in what he described as 鈥渢hree bonus games鈥� following a five-year layoff, he certainly gave the reeling Colts a chance to win all three.
Rivers helped the Colts take a late lead in Week 15 at Seattle only to watch Indy’s defense give up a late field goal in the final minute. His interception in the waning seconds sealed Indy’s 18-16 loss.
In Week 16, against San Francisco, Rivers helped the Colts score 27 points 鈥� but the defense never forced a punt in a 48-27 loss.
And last Sunday, Rivers’ touchdown pass to Mo Alie-Cox gave Indy a 17-14 lead over Jacksonville in the third quarter. The Jaguars, however, scored the final nine points of the game to hand the Colts their sixth straight loss, paving the way for Leonard to make his starting debut in the NFL.
鈥淚f this was the last one 鈥� shoot again, I told you guys I wouldn鈥檛 have any regrets about coming back, and I don鈥檛,鈥� Rivers said Sunday. 鈥淥ther than us not winning, right 鈥� us not winning. It鈥檚 been an absolute blast for three weeks. If I鈥檇 go back and say, 鈥楢ll right, now you know everything that is going to happen. What are you going to do?鈥� I鈥檇 do it all again. It鈥檚 been absolutely awesome.鈥�
Rivers was the most recent quarterback to lead the Colts to the playoffs in 2020. Rivers, also the coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama, will turn the starting job over to Leonard, who played at a different high school in Fairhope.
Indy is about to embark on yet another offseason full of significant questions, starting with either Steichen, general manager Chris Ballard or both could be out after becoming the first team in 30 years to start 8-2 and miss the playoffs.
The quarterback carousel also could be spinning again.
Rivers came out of retirement two days after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon that could keep him out at least until the start of training camp, perhaps longer, and one day after Leonard arrived at the team complex with an injured right knee. Jones is set to become a free agent again in March.
Though Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall draft pick in 2023, has been practicing each of the past two weeks, he’s still on the injured reserve list because of a fractured orbital bone near his eye 鈥� the result of a bizarre pregame injury suffered in the locker room when a stretching band snapped.
Richardson is not expected to be activated Sunday and may not be back with the team after losing his starting job to Jones in training camp and throwing just two passes all season.
鈥淗e鈥檚 still got the eye limitations, and we just want to be really smart with that to be completely honest,鈥� Steichen said Monday.
If he doesn’t take any more snaps, Rivers sounds content to finish his career sixth all time in career TD passes with 425, eighth in yards passing with 63,984 and ninth in career wins with 134.
鈥淥h yeah, yeah. I鈥檒l be right back on the sideline,鈥� Rivers said when asked if another comeback was out of the question, “which I鈥檓 sure many watching probably said that鈥檚 probably where you belong.鈥�
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