Cowboys' Brian Schottenheimer recalls un-retired Colts QB Philip Rivers 'could never really move'

Rivers echoed that sentiment at his introductory press conference: "I ain't ran away from anybody anyway."

FRISCO, Texas -- Unbelievably, quarterback Philip Rivers returned to the NFL  after being retired for five years to help out the banged-up Indianapolis Colts. 

With Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard all injured, Rivers has a chance to potentially start for the 8-5 Colts when they face 10-3 Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. He never left football in retirement, serving as the St. Michael Catholic High School football head coach since 2020.

That doesn't surprise Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the eight-time Pro Bowler's first quarterbacks coach with the Chargers from 2004 through 2005. While some may worry about Rivers' ability to evade an NFL pass rush after five years off and being in his mid-forties, Schottenheimer quipped that was never really Rivers' game anyways. 

"Man, he must have hated coaching. I don't know how they did, I'm sure they did well. I'm just happy for him. He loves football man. He does," Schottenheimer said on Wednesday. "His ability to see a football field was unique and special. I know one thing, he can get it out of his hand pretty quick. He might not be able to move. He really never could move, but boy he can get the ball out of his hand fast. So he hasn't lost his quick release."

Philip Rivers explains decision to sign with Colts, aims to capitalize on 'bonus time' in NFL

Carter Bahns

Rivers himself acknowledged he's going to try to operate a pass-happy offense if he does start on Sunday. It certainly helps that he can hand the ball off to Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor, the NFL leader in both rushing yards (1,356) and rushing touchdowns (16). 

"Shoot, we're gonna run the crap out of the ball and go from there," Rivers said Wednesday at his introductory press conference, via CBS 4 Indy. "We'll see what I can do but I'm not here to be the savior."

If he starts in Week 15 against Seattle, it would be his first NFL start in 1,800 days -- he last started a game with the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC wild card round against the Buffalo Bills on Jan. 9, 2021. That will be the longest layoff by a QB over 40 to start a game in NFL history. Both the Colts and Pro Football Reference list the six-foot, five-inch passer's weight at 228, but Rivers acknowledged that's not the weight he's playing at right now. As Schottenheimer said, Rivers "never really could move."

"I'm not sure. How bout that? That's an honest answer," Rivers said, via Fox 59 News. … "Not what it was when I walked off the field in Buffalo. But I ain't ran away from anybody anyway."