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In a wild turn of events, it sure looks like Philip Rivers will be suiting up in an NFL game for the first time in nearly five years.
Rivers just turned 44 earlier this week and recently became a grandfather, but after injuries to both Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard, the Indianapolis Colts had almost nowhere to turn.
It’s as good a match as the Colts could find, as Rivers played for Shane Steichen and the Colts in 2020, so Rivers is familiar with the offense.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) drops back to pass Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, during practice at the Colts training facility in Indianapolis.
But it’s still been half a decade since he’s been in the league. So Warren Moon, who also played in the NFL in his mid-40s, gave Rivers advice.
“Rely on your running backs. They’ve got a great running back (in Jonathan Taylor) behind him that they can lean on, and their offensive line is going to have to really play well, really play physical to control the line of scrimmage and keep him out of long-yardage situations,” Moon told TMZ Sports.
“Because I think that’s where he’s going to be hurt the most if he has to go with those, you know, third-and-8, third-and-9, third-and-10s, where he might have to hold the football a little bit longer than he wants to. And does he have the escape ability to move around in the pocket like he used to when he played, having been away from it this long?”
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) before playing against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card game at Bills Stadium on Jan. 9, 2021. (Rich Barnes/USA TODAY Sports)
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Moon admitted he was “alarmed” that Rivers was returning, considering the long layoff.
“He’s been away for five years, and even though he’s been around the game, he’s coached the game, he probably still talks about it with his old offensive coordinator, Shane Steichen, and all those guys, you just don’t know how his body is going to react to getting out there every day—the grind of practicing—how his body is going to feel after a week of practice,” Moon said. “Does he still have those fast-twitch muscles that it takes to go out there and play this game, which has gotten probably a lot faster since he retired from the game five years ago? So those are the things that concern me as far as his reaction time and how he can get the ball out of his hand quickly enough.”
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, during practice at the Colts training facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Mykal McEldowney/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
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The Colts started out 7-1 but have lost four of their last five, including each of their last three. They will head to Seattle to face the Seahawks, as Rivers will likely attempt to keep their playoff hopes alive.
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