Examining Why Philip Rivers is not the answer for the Indianapolis Colts originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Indianapolis Colts officially announced that starting quarterback Daniel Jones is out for the season with a torn Achilles. But along with the news about Jones, it was announced that rookie backup quarterback Riley Leonard, who stepped in for an injured Jones, is week-to-week with a strained knee ligament. With the injuries mounting at the position, the Indianapolis Colts looked to a familiar face from their past to potentially rejoin their team. Philip Rivers, who signed a one-day deal with the Los Angeles Chargers to retire on July 21, 2025, has been contacted and is flying to Indianapolis to work out for the Colts. No one expected to hear this news about Rivers, but the now-high school football head coach is interested in the potential opportunity. Rivers had a great career and did some extraordinary things on the field, but there is also a time to let go of a chapter of your life.

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Rivers was an outstanding quarterback, but later on in his career, one thing was missing. Rivers lost arm strength as his career went on.  In his last season with the Indianapolis Colts, he had to be replaced by backup quarterbacks to throw deep passes like a Hail Mary because his arm was not strong enough. It has been five years since he last played, and his arm strength probably has not improved since then. With his lack of arm strength, he could be limited when throwing the ball at intermediate to deep levels, along with throwing routes outside the numbers. That type of limitation would hinder the Colts’ offense and make it more predictable. And ultimately, that would leave Rivers as a sitting duck against some of these exotic defenses.

Along with a lack of arm strength, remember that Rivers has not played football in five years, which means he has not taken any hits. Over time, your body becomes conditioned to taking hits in football. And with that, you get used to standing in the pocket while delivering passes. Rivers is going to need time to get used to hits again, because ultimately, he is going to get hit. His body, in its mid-40s, is not going to respond to hits as it used to, even with rules that protect quarterbacks more from big hits. And with that, the soreness of getting used to playing football again will linger a little longer, especially since he did not have a training camp to get himself ready. He would presumably be brought in and placed on the practice squad to get ready to play, but how long will that take, and will the season be over by the time he is prepared to step on the field?

Great players often find it hard to step away entirely, but sometimes Father Time tells them that the moment is now to leave the game. It will be interesting to see if Rivers has something left in the tank should he decide to step back on the field officially with the Colts. But if he does, know it won’t be some incredible comeback story. There will be some hardships to overcome that are simply part of the aging process.