What next for Philip Rivers after Seahawks loss? Colts coach confirms QB plans
The veteran quarterback had a tough NFL return against the Seattle Seahawks but did enough to convince Shane Steichen to stick with him.
Philip River’s shock return to the NFL did not have the fairytale start that he would have wanted but he did do enough to ensure that he keeps his place.
The 44-year-old Rivers signed a short-term deal with the Indianapolis Colts last weekend, filling in amid an injury crisis at quarterback. He played against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday - his first start since 2020 - but could not prevent the Colts falling to a 18-16 loss.
Rivers looked a bit rusty in the opening stages but he made 18 of his 27 passes, throwing a first-half touchdown to nudge the Colts into the lead. Speaking on Monday, Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Rivers would be given the starter’s jersey against for next week’s Monday Night Football clash with the San Francisco 49ers.
“Him being off for that long, obviously, there was some unknown,” Steichen explained. “But for him to go out there and do what he did to put us in a position to win, in a hostile environment, after that long of a layoff, was pretty impressive.”
“Getting us into the right plays, managing the game. I thought he was phenomenal in that regard on the sidelines. His leadership -- all those things that he brings to our team -- will be beneficial for all of us.”
“He feels good,” Steichen continued, when asked about the 44-year-old’s fitness after Sunday’s game. “He’s in the quarterback room right now watching tape. He said he felt good. He said, ‘I got my normal bruises that I had when I played,’ but he said, ‘I feel pretty darn good.’ So, that was good for him to come out of the game clean.”
Indianapolis look set to stick with Rivers for now, although Anthony Richardson Sr. is reportedly close to a return to the practice field. However the team is yet to declare his practice window open, suggesting that Richardson is more than 21 days away from a return.
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