During the summer, Shawne Merriman had a sense that Philip Rivers might not be finished with the NFL just yet.
The former Chargers linebacker shared with the Post that this realization came to him during a conversation with Rivers at Antonio Gates’ Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio.
“The more I talked to him,” Merriman recounted about his August chat with Rivers, “it felt like the football never left him.”
When Rivers made headlines by re-signing with the Colts after over four years away from the NFL, Merriman said he wasn’t surprised at all.
Now that Rivers’ return is official, Merriman expressed confidence in Rivers’ performance, believing the 44-year-old quarterback would deliver a solid game if called upon to play against the Seahawks in Indianapolis.
“I think he’s going to come out and look pretty good,” Merriman stated. “I really think so.”
Rivers joined the Colts’ practice squad on Wednesday after injuries affected the team’s top three quarterbacks. If one of them, Riley Leonard, continues to face issues, he might still recover in time for the game in Seattle.
Having last played in an NFL game in January 2021, Rivers was coaching his son’s high school football team in Alabama before the Colts reached out. He described his return as exciting and referred to it as “bonus time” in his dream career.
Despite admitting he’s a little heavier now, he humorously noted that he was not particularly good at escaping defenders.
Merriman, who played alongside Rivers from 2005 to 2010, echoed this sentiment in his conversation with the Post.
As someone who’s recently signed a significant media rights deal, Merriman seems confident that if Rivers steps in this weekend, it could lead to something remarkable.
“If he goes out there and is successful, if he wins the game, it’s going to be outrageous,” Merriman expressed, adding that it would be a “crazy” moment.
He also imagined that if Rivers could lead the Colts to a playoff position after such a late return, it would be something Disney might want to feature.
