Colts' Philip Rivers: Remaining starter for Week 16
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Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Rivers will draw another start during Monday Night Football against the 49ers in Week 16 on Dec. 22, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Rivers made his first start since 2021 during Indianapolis' narrow 18-16 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday, in which he completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 120 yards, one touchdown and one interception while losing five yards on his only carry. While the 44-year-old signal-caller's numbers were excessively modest, he piloted Indianapolis' offense with prudence and kept the team competitive in a difficult road environment. He'll have an opportunity to build on that production at home versus a 49ers defense that's lost multiple key playmakers Monday.
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Colts' Philip Rivers: Makes first start since 2021
Rotowire
Rivers completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 120 yards, one touchdown and one interception while losing five yards on his only carry in Sunday's 18-16 loss to the Seahawks.
Rivers performed about as well as you could expect Sunday from a player coming out of retirement after nearly a five-year absence. The 44-year-old attempted short, safe passes while keeping the Colts competitive against a daunting opponent. Rivers was finally asked to take a shot down the field in the closing moments of the contest in order to get his club into range for a game-winning field goal, but he airmailed his target for his only interception. It was a valiant effort from Rivers given Indianapolis' desperate circumstances, but his game-manager style of play is unlikely to produce alluring fantasy numbers. That said, next Monday's matchup against San Francisco's depleted defensive unit presents a softer matchup for Rivers' second start of the campaign.
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Colts' Philip Rivers: Signed ahead of expected start
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The Colts signed Rivers off their practice squad Saturday.
The move puts Rivers on track to play Sunday against the Seahawks, with Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reporting earlier Saturday that the 44-year-old is expected to start in Week 15, while rookie sixth-round pick Riley Leonard serves as the backup. The Colts have yet to confirm that Rivers will start, but if he does, he would be making his first NFL appearance since Jan. 9, 2021. Rivers was a full participant in practice throughout the week after the Colts signed him to their practice squad Wednesday.
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Colts' Philip Rivers: Week 15 starting QB TBD
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Colts head coach Shane Steichen noted Friday that a decision on who will start at QB in Sunday's game against the Seahawks (between Rivers and Riley Leonard) has yet to be made, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports.
"We're working through that," Steichen said Friday of the team's Week 15 QB plans. Per Stephen Holder of ESPN.com, Rivers has looked good and moved around well during practice, while Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis relays that Leonard took some starting reps this week. For his part, James Boyd of The Athletic believes that Rivers will get the nod, a notion put forth by Holder on Thursday. In any case, in order for Rivers to be available as either a starter or backup versus Seattle, he must first be elevated from the Colts' practice squad ahead of Saturday's deadline.
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Colts' Philip Rivers: Officially joins Colts' practice squad
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Rivers officially joined the Colts' practice squad Wednesday, JJ Stankevitz of the team's official site reports.
Rivers, who had retired after the 2020 season, bolsters a Colts QB corps that has been hit hard by injuries. Daniel Jones is out for the season with an Achilles' injury, Anthony Richardson (orbital) remains on IR, and Riley Leonard is dealing with a knee injury ahead of Sunday's game against the Seahawks. For now, Brett Rypien is the healthiest option on the team's active roster, but Stephen Holder of ESPN.com relayed Wednesday via coach Shane Steichen that Rivers will be evaluated as the week progresses, with Indianapolis' Week 15 QB plans yet to be determined.
