Philip Rivers has a secret weapon that could help him be more successful with the Colts than anyone is predicting

Many are skeptical that Philip Rivers, at 44, could help save the Colts’ season, but he does have a secret weapon that could help him outplay expectations.

Destin Adams NFL News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Colts QB Philip Rivers back in 2020 in his final game before retiring
Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The Indianapolis Colts made quite the splash by signing future Hall of Fame QB Philip Rivers on Tuesday to their practice squad. This comes after he participated in a workout Monday night, where he showed the team enough to pull the trigger on signing him. The now 44-year-old QB will take the practice field this week, officially returning to the NFL for the first time since the 2020 season. 

To many (including myself), this feels like a wild decision by both the Colts and Rivers. However, there are some clear reasons the team made this move. The first is that he spent nearly his entire playing career in the same offense that Steichen uses. That isn’t where his knowledge of the Colts’ offensive playbook ends, though.

Philip Rivers has been using the Colts’ offensive playbook with his high school football team

Former Houston Texans star and current CBS broadcaster J.J. Watt shared that he discovered in production meetings that Rivers ran Shane Steichen’s playbook with his high school football team. The two have been in constant communication throughout the season as both football minds have shared ideas they’ve had to improve plays. 

It is fair to say that, while very unorthodox, Rivers’ knowledge of the scheme likely made him the best option the Colts had at QB that was available. The plan still appears to be for Rivers only to play if rookie Riley Leonard is unable to play through his current knee injury. Still, what a story for the 44-year-old who was recently named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame to be attempting a comeback to the NFL.