Seahawks Could Suddenly Face 44-Year-Old Philip Rivers After Daniel Jones Injury

The Indianapolis Colts have worked out 44-year-old Philip Rivers ahead of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks, and talks about a possible deal are ongoing, according to multiple reports.

Dianna Russini of The Athletic posted that Rivers’ workout Monday night with the Colts “went well” but that nothing has been agreed to yet between the sides. ESPN’s Adam Schefter added that the workout already took place and that conversations are continuing, amplifying an earlier report from Jeremy Fowler that Rivers “threw the ball well” and that the team will “see what’s next.”

The stunning development comes as the Colts arrive in Seattle with a banged-up quarterback room and a season that has slipped from early promise into uncertainty.

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Colts Turn to 44-Year-Old Option Before Seahawks Game

Indianapolis is searching for answers after losing starter Daniel Jones to an Achilles injury, pushing rookie Riley Leonard into action. Leonard, a sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame, hurt his knee in December 7’s 36-19 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and is now also a question mark for Week 15, according to that report and comments from head coach Shane Steichen.

Steichen told reporters on December 8 that the team is “working through” Leonard’s knee issue and that the hope is he can play against Seattle, but there is no guarantee. ESPN later reported Leonard has a strained knee ligament.

Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall pick in 2023, remains on injured reserve with an orbital fracture and is not an option this week. That leaves only Brett Rypien, who briefly spent time with the Seahawks in 2023, as the healthy quarterback on the active roster.

With that backdrop, the Colts are revisiting Rivers, who last played for them in 2020 and was recently named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The longtime Chargers and Colts starter has been coaching high school football in Alabama since retiring. A potential reunion would give Steichen a veteran who already knows his system from their years together with the Chargers.

What It Could Mean for the Seahawks’ Defense

For the Seahawks, the uncertainty under center for Indianapolis complicates the game plan but could also present opportunities. Mike Macdonald and Seattle defensive coordinator Aden Durde and his staff now have to prepare for three very different possibilities:

• A gimpy rookie in Leonard, making just his first extended road start.
• A journeyman backup in Rypien, who has not thrown a regular-season pass since 2023.
• Or a Hall of Fame–caliber veteran in Rivers, who hasn’t played an NFL snap in four seasons but brings more than 60,000 career passing yards and a reputation for diagnosing defenses before the snap.

Seattle has already seen its share of inexperienced quarterbacks this year. The Seahawks recently faced Tennessee rookie Cam Ward and Minnesota’s Max Brosmer, winning both games as their defense took advantage of limited NFL experience. After Sunday’s contest, regardless of who the Colts start, it will mark the third consecutive week the Seahawks have faced a backup quarterback. 

A rusty Rivers, however, would present the opposite challenge: someone who has seen every coverage the Seahawks can dial up, even if his arm and mobility are not what they once were.

If the Colts elevate Rivers from a potential practice-squad signing to the active roster, it is unclear how quickly he could be ready to start. But even the threat of Rivers seeing snaps on Sunday will force the Seahawks to devote meeting time and scout-team reps to his style of play.

Colts’ QB Mess, Stats & Context for Seahawks Fans

The Colts have dropped four of their last five games to fall to 8-5 and into a tie for second place in the AFC South behind Jacksonville. Their offense has struggled to find consistency since Jones went down, and the team is trying to avoid letting a once-promising season slide out of playoff position.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, enter Week 15 looking to stack wins at Lumen Field and stay in the thick of the NFC playoff race. Whether they see Leonard, Rypien or a surprise Rivers comeback, Seattle’s defense knows the quarterback chaos in Indianapolis could swing the matchup — if it can take advantage of it.

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