Philip Rivers will get another Colts start after ‘impressive’ NFL return

Philip Rivers will get the start again in Week 16 as the Colts try to keep their playoff hopes alive. 

Rivers, 44, made his first start since 2020 in the Colts’ loss to the Seahawks on Sunday and now will be under center for a second straight game. 

“We didn’t bring him in here to sit on the bench,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen told reporters.

It will continue as one of the more wild stories this season after Rivers came out of retirement to play quarterback for the banged-up Colts, who saw former Giant Daniel Jones go down with a season-ending Achilles injury while backup Anthony Richardson has been dealing with an orbital injury. 

Third-stringer Riley Leonard has been dealing with a knee injury. 

Rivers threw for 120 yards with one touchdown and an interception, while appearing to beat everyone’s expectations. 

“Him being off for that long, obviously, there was some unknown,” Steichen said. “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 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.”

Steichen revealed during Monday’s news conference that Richardson had been medically cleared to resume physical activities and he had begun lifting weights, running and throwing.

The 49ers will be a tough task for the Colts as they attempt to keep their season alive.

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Rivers told reporters after Sunday’s loss that the team would “scratch and fight and claw” against the Niners. 

“Not because I’m here, but I do know that any team that I had ever been a part of, not because of me, but I’ve been a part of, will fight like crazy until they tell us the season’s over. You can guarantee that for the next three weeks,” he said.