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All signs point to Philip Rivers, 44, starting for the Indianapolis Colts in his first NFL game since the 2020 season on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
Even though the Colts and their fans didn’t have that on their bingo card this season, it’s the reality after Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury and rookie Riley Leonard is dealing with a knee ailment this week.
Rivers joins a Colts team looking for an AFC playoff seed, one game out of the AFC South lead behind the Jacksonville Jaguars, to whom they lost in Week 14. As things stand, the Colts are No. 8 in the AFC, with only seven teams coming out of each conference.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) warms up Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, during practice at the Colts practice facility in Indianapolis. (Imagn)
So while some doubt that Rivers, the 17-year veteran who ranks seventh in all-time passing yards in the NFL, can get the job done for Indy, one of its receivers from the 2020 season thinks he can.
Michael Pittman Jr.’s first NFL quarterback was Rivers after joining the Colts during the 2020 season, when the signal-caller led the team to an 11-5 record. After seeing him in the building again this week, Pittman couldn’t help but describe Rivers as someone who still has “the same fire.”
“Phil is the same guy,” Pittman said, discussing his partnership with Oral-B, the official toothbrush of the NFL. “I really don’t notice much difference from our 2020 season, and he’s excited. He’s ready to go. So, I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t really think anyone knows, but we’re going to be ready for whatever happens.”
PHILIP RIVERS EMBRACES NFL RETURN TO QUARTERBACK AFTER RETURN TO COLTS: “I THOUGHT THE SHIP HAD SAILED”
It makes sense that Rivers has his share of skeptics. He hasn’t seen NFL action in five seasons, and he’s never been the most mobile quarterback anyway, something he joked about during his media session Wednesday.
But Pittman thinks football fans are overlooking a key aspect of this issue. Colts head coach Shane Steichen’s offense originated with the San Diego Chargers before they moved to Los Angeles.
“When you look back, Philip really helped invent that offensive scheme when you go back to Shane’s history and when he was a young coach,” Pittman said, referring to Steichen’s six years as the Chargers’ quarterbacks coach alongside Rivers. “He really showed himself in the same attack that Philip has run his whole career.
“If we’re going to go after a guy, and that’s what people forget. This offense was run by Philip Rivers, that’s why he’s one of the perfect guys to go after him. His mind is so sharp, and he still has that same fire.”
Michael Pittman Jr. (11) of the Indianapolis Colts celebrates with quarterback Philip Rivers (17) during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders on December 13, 2020, in Las Vegas. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Rivers’ cerebral processing on the court has always been solid, which is why he lasted so long in the league. But this internal motivation and thirst for competition is what Pittman also sees from the start of practice.
“He said the word ‘stinky’ probably 100 times during his speech, and I can tell he really cares about it,” Pittman said with a laugh. “He wouldn’t reset his Hall of Fame if he didn’t really care.”
Of course, the “Dadgummit!” Rivers patent. is not what Pittman wants to hear over the next four games if the Colts play him at quarterback. It’s something Pittman admitted to hearing a lot during his freshman year, but he’s blossomed into the talent many thought he would be in the NFL.
We’ll see if the Colts make it official later this week, but Pittman couldn’t be more confident in Rivers if he gets the call.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) returns to pass Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, during practice at the Colts training complex in Indianapolis. (IMAGINE)
PERFECT CLEAN, PERFECT GAME
Pittman teamed up with Oral-B, which was recently named the official toothbrush of the NFL, and he shot some fun content with the Colts’ beloved mascot, Blue.
Pittman and Blue were trying to clean their pearly whites with the new iO Series electric toothbrush, and while Blue is known for his belly that moves during games, he also had a set of giant teeth to get right before the game.
As someone who never deviates from their game day routine, it starts with brushing your teeth before anything else in the morning.
“Smiling is everything,” Pittman said. “With Oral-B being the official toothbrush of the NFL, I felt like it was a perfect partner because they give you the perfect clean so you can play the perfect game with their IO Series toothbrush that they just released. It does all the work for you, so it couldn’t be easier.”
