T
he San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for a big game against the Tennessee Titans this weekend but after that, a very interesting week awaits. Set to take on the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football in Week 16, the 49ers are focused on coming away with a win over the Titans so that they can go into their next game with a lot of momentum. And possibly set to face a legendary quarterback, momentum is key.
Signing future Hall of Fame Philip Rivers out of retirement early in the week, the 44-year-old could start for the team at some point this season, with the game against the 49ers a very likely option. Signing with the Colts five years after his final NFL game, nobody knows what to expect out of Rivers. But considering how the Colts felt confident enough to sign him, expect Rivers to cause at least some trouble for teams like the 49ers. In fact, it was not long ago that the 49ers themselves considered bringing Rivers out of retirement when they had injuries at quarterback.
Shanahan Reflects on Signing Rivers
Back in 2022, the season where the 49ers went 13-4 and made it all the way to the NFC title game, they experienced injury issues at quarterback similar to what the Colts are dealing with now. Losing Trey Lance to a season-ending injury in week two of that season, Jimmy Garoppolo then suffered a season-ending foot injury in week 13, leaving the 49ers in quarterback purgatory ahead of the playoffs. Before Brock Purdy broke out and became the star of that season, Shanahan said the team called Rivers to inquire about him. Then, when Purdy got injured in the NFC title game, Shanahan mentioned that the team considered Rivers again in the event that they made the Super Bowl.
“So, we had no backup,” Shanahan said recalling when Garoppolo broke his foot. “We also had a rookie [Purdy] who was the last pick in the Draft, and who hadn’t played a snap yet except for the mop-up time that he got, so we weren’t sure where this is going to go. But, we would like to see him go and see how he can do because we think he might do really well. But regardless, we didn’t have anyone after him at the time. So that was when Philip started watching our installs, getting ready for the possibility to come here, and he would’ve if [QB] Brock [Purdy] ever got hurt.”
Instead, the 49ers lost in the NFC title game and went on to make an appearance in the Super Bowl the following season– losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Will Rivers Face the 49ers?
When the 49ers take on the Colts in Week 16, there is a strong possibility that Rivers will be the quarterback they face. Daniel Jones is out for the season with a torn achilles, leaving rookie Riley Leonard and former undrafted free agent, Brett Rypien, as the only two quarterbacks on the active roster. And with both of them having limited experience, the Colts could turn to Rivers to lead them into the game against the 49ers, also tasked with keeping the Colts season afloat.
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