The Seattle Seahawks may have been fearing a game against the resurgent Daniel Jones and the Indianapolis Colts, but following the former top pick's brutal Achilles injury, Mike Macdonald might face off against either a seldom-used backup or an ancient figure from days gone by.
Not only is Jones out of commission, but former No. 4 pick Anthony Richardson is working his way back from a freak accident eye injury. Rookie Riley Leonard, who relieved Jones after his injury, is working through a knee injury ahead of what could be his first professional start.
The available quarterbacks on the Indianapolis roster consist of the beaten-up Leonard, career practice squad shuffler Brett Rypien, and Philip Rivers. Yes, indeed. The 44-year-old who hasn't played football since the COVID-impacted 2020 season and has spent the last five years as a high-school football coach in Alabama is coming back.
The Colts officially signed Rivers to the practice squad, which is a move that sounds almost inconceivable due to the unprecedented nature of bringing someone out of retirement just a few weeks before he will be voted on for the Hall of Fame. The Colts are panicking, and that could lead to an easier victory if Seattle takes advantage.
Seahawks have to laugh as Week 15 opponent Colts sign Philip Rivers out of retirement
Rivers is eventually going to get a gold jacket in Canton, but to bring in someone who hasn't played since before Joe Biden's inauguration in the middle of a playoff push smacks of a team in desperation mode. Rivers is extremely smart and accurate, but playing a road game against a team like Seattle is a whole different beast.
It's not just the quarterback room who is beat up for Seattle. Indianapolis' new-look outside cornerback tandem of Charvarius Ward and Sauce Gardner (who they traded two first-round picks for) are dealing with a concussion and calf injury, respectively.
As Seattle proved when they decimated undrafted Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer in their dominant Week 13 win, this defense can make life hell on either a young quarterback or someone that isn't mobile enough to evade the pass rush.
Be it an injured Leonard, a practice-squad player in Rypien, or someone who is literally a grandfather in Rivers, the Seahawks will likely be very happy with the fact that they will take on a Colts team that is going to be the furthest thing from full strength.