The Indianapolis Colts officially have Philip Rivers on the roster, and the next step is figuring out when he will be on the field to play his first game since 2021. When talking to reporters on his first day back, Rivers was asked if he would start against the Seattle Seahawks.
“I’m preparing like that. I'm pushing myself to get there. And if that’s what they feel, we collectively feel, is the best decision, then we’ll go,” Rivers said.
“I've had some good memories in Seattle,” Rivers continued. Some not so great. I know that good that team is and how well they're playing right now. Me at 30, me at 44 — going to Seattle and winning in 2025 in Week (15) is gonna be tough.”
The Seahawks were probably a good team back then when he played them, and it seems like nothing has changed on that front except the players. Nonetheless, Rivers knows what it takes to beat elite teams, and if he does start, he will have the team ready for the matchup.
Before they get to that point, the Colts want to know if Rivers can do a few things, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder and Jeremy Fowler.
“But predictable concerns remain. Can Rivers, for instance, elude a pass rush? That is of utmost importance if Rivers ends up playing on Sunday, as the Seahawks rank fourth in the league with 41 sacks. Seattle also is second in scoring defense, allowing 17.4 points per game,” Holder and Fowler wrote. “As one team source put it, Rivers' quick release and fearlessness in the pocket will help, but how he responds to an NFL pass rush at this age is an unknown variable.”
If Rivers can show in practice that he still has the movement needed to get around the pocket, if needed, they may throw him out there as the starter.
