Philip Rivers to Join Colts’ Practice Squad

Philip Rivers is set to rejoin the Colts, surprising many with his decision to come out of retirement at the age of 44. He’ll be signing with the practice squad after a workout with the team on Monday.

Some have speculated about the connection between Rivers and Colts head coach Shane Steichen, who previously worked with him at the Chargers. However, the extent of their communication before this decision wasn’t entirely clear.

That is, until former NFL player and CBS analyst J.J. Watt shared some intriguing news on social media. He noted, “Philip Rivers ran the same offense as the Colts on his son Gunnar’s high school team this season. He and Shane Steichen talked about it weekly, discussing plays and film, so it should be no problem for him to fit in.” This revelation adds an interesting layer to Rivers’ return.

Rivers, who has been coaching his son’s high school football team in Alabama, seems to have reached out to Steichen for insights, which might explain the Colts’ choice to bring him back. He last played in the NFL during the 2020 season with the Colts before retiring in July.

Steichen worked as the quarterbacks coach for the Chargers from 2016 to 2019 while Rivers was still with the team, even stepping in as interim offensive coordinator in 2019. It’s worth noting that Watt has attended Colts broadcasts in the past, which probably gave him access to this insider information.

Watt is set to commentate on the upcoming game between the Bills and Patriots. With backup quarterback Riley Leonard out with a knee injury, there’s a chance Rivers might find himself starting sooner rather than later.