The eyes of the NFL world will probably be in Seattle on Sunday afternoon to observe Outdated Man Rivers in opposition to the most effective defenses within the league.
The expectation is that the Indianapolis Colts will activate the 44-year-old Philip Rivers from the apply squad Saturday to be their starter, granting us some of the inconceivable and unlikely comebacks in trendy NFL historical past — the cherry on prime of the most effective slates you might ask for. The Colts haven’t formally named Rivers the starter, and Riley Leonard (knee) was a full participant at apply all week.
Sunday vs. the Seahawks (4:25 ET, CBS) will mark 1,800 days precisely since Rivers’ final NFL recreation, which would be the longest layoff by a quarterback 40 years or older in league historical past. Whereas many across the league have privately joked about this comeback, and others have issued worries in regards to the spot Rivers is placing himself in, the quarterback has stated he isn’t naïve to the challenges forward on Sunday in opposition to the league’s second-ranked protection in Seattle.
“I do know that there is threat concerned, clearly, on what could or could not occur,” Rivers stated. “However the one approach to discover out goes for it. I simply felt virtually prefer it was a present, one other alternative to play and lower it free with the blokes and the sport you like to play and the dream that you simply bought to reside. You could get some bonus time.”
There is no such thing as a good comparability within the trendy NFL for what Rivers goes to try. Steve DeBerg performed in 1998 at 44 years outdated after a four-year layoff, however he did not begin in a recreation till late within the 12 months and had been with the Falcons all coaching camp and season lengthy.
When Joe Flacco got here off the sofa for the Browns in 2023, he was 38 years outdated and had performed the earlier 12 months with the Jets. Flacco additionally nonetheless had an awesome arm, one thing that Rivers has by no means actually possessed.
I requested one of many smartest NFL offensive coordinators what he would do to assist Rivers in opposition to the Seahawks.
“Fast recreation!,” he stated. “Truthfully, you bought to have the ability to set up run recreation after which passes want to actually have totally thought out scorching shops so he can get the ball out.
“Mike Macdonald goes to have some enjoyable packages to observe.”
I then turned to the most effective defensive coaches within the league for the way he would plan for Rivers if he ran the Seattle protection.
“I’m heavy disguise with two pressures not less than he hasn’t seen on tape,” the coach stated. “I am base protection in opposition to 11 personnel early and I am simulating strain on second and go.”
Each Seattle’s theoretical plan of assault and Rivers’ personal plan are predicated on his lack of mobility. When he takes the sector Sunday he’ll immediately be the least cell quarterback within the league.
His common pace of three.02 mph/play in 2020 was fourth slowest within the league behind Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Drew Brees. At the moment, he would rank second behind solely Mac Jones (3.01 mph), however that is 5 years later with three practices below his belt.
It’s unlikely Rivers will be capable of do a lot from below middle, both. In 2020 with the Colts he was in shotgun 90.1 % of the time, third-highest within the league then. Daniel Jones labored out of shotgun 78.5 % of the time this season, rating twentieth within the league.
It is doable Rivers seems to be about as cell as he did within the 2007 AFC Championship Sport when he performed on a torn ACL. After all, he was 26 then.
What’s clear is that Colts head coach Shane Steichen should do issues otherwise for Rivers than he was with Jones, who had 5 speeding touchdowns.
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Saturday’s anticipated elevation will even take away Rivers from consideration for the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame Class of 2026 and push his eligibility window out 5 extra years. Rivers wouldn’t have gotten into the Corridor on this poll, and it is doable he’ll at all times be on the skin wanting in with zero All Execs and no Tremendous Bowl appearances.
But when he can someway defy the percentages and get the Colts into the playoffs, Rivers could get his second NFL Comeback Participant of the Yr award and add sufficient to his legacy that his Corridor candidacy within the 2030s is stronger than it’s immediately.
Who’s Daniel Jones taking part in for in 2026?
If Rivers is the Colts current, Indy’s future stays a query. Daniel Jones’ Achilles harm means he will not be cleared for contact at a apply till June exercises on the absolute earliest, and sure not till some level throughout coaching camp.
Jones is on a one-year contract, that means the Colts or one other staff should signal him this spring simply over three months faraway from Achilles surgical procedure. Who’s going to try this? And what is going to his worth be?
The second query is difficult to reply. It was already troublesome to nail down earlier than the harm, contemplating his degree of play by means of the primary half of the season, then the slight decline, alongside together with his historical past of signing a serious deal simply to observe the whole lot round him crumble. However with this harm? The second season-ender of his profession? That is a troublesome projection earlier than Christmas.
The Colts can have the franchise tag at their disposal on the subject of Jones. Indianapolis will certainly need Jones again, however it’s doable the 2 sides will not be capable of conform to phrases. The best way Indy ensures it retains Jones on the staff is by utilizing the tag, which will probably be upwards of $40 million subsequent 12 months. That is a giant quantity for a participant coming off a severe harm, and there is no approach to anticipate whether or not Indianapolis would challenge the tag now when their medical doctors would wish to totally consider Jones months after surgical procedure.
And although a lot youthful than Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers after they had their accidents, would possibly there be some hesitation in a staff placing their 2026 eggs within the Jones basket coming off Achilles surgical procedure?
I feel what’s clear is Jones will need the most effective state of affairs for himself, from contract to entrance workplace to teach to roster. That very properly could possibly be in Indy with both the tag or a contract. If the Colts do not tag him, it is doable he turns into a free agent. The perfect state of affairs could current itself someplace outdoors of Indianapolis, in that case. A number of sources have pointed to Minnesota as being a possible touchdown spot.
Jones picked the Vikings after his launch from the Giants, and J.J. McCarthy has performed so poorly it’s clear Minnesota will want some quarterback insurance coverage subsequent 12 months no matter how he finishes the 12 months.
The Colts have lots to determine these subsequent few weeks. And Jones has lots to work by means of these subsequent few months. However except the Colts are prepared to challenge the franchise tag, I do not see it as a slam dunk that Jones is again with Indy subsequent 12 months.
Let’s hope we do not get ‘Alternative Refs’ 2.0
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One thing that flew a bit below the radar this week was the NFL informing staff homeowners that its talks with the NFL Referees Affiliation towards a brand new collective bargaining settlement have been “unsuccessful.” This might wind up being a giant deal!
The CBA for officers expires on the finish of Might, and if talks are unsuccessful in December, I do not know why anybody would really feel enthused about minds being modified come the offseason when there is no deadline strain with video games three-plus months away.
To recap, the league needs to reward high-performing officers with extra year-end bonus cash, needs to eliminate seniority issues when giving out postseason assignments, needs obligatory coaching for low-performing officers, needs to increase a probationary interval that removes underperforming officers, needs to shrink the lifeless interval that is presently from the Tremendous Bowl to Might 15 and desires to extend its “apply squad” of officers.
All of these items sound nice, after all. And the refs union has determined to maintain its needs non-public. However you possibly can think about the union needs more cash and fewer efficiency penalties for officers, on the very least.
Whereas the NFL is the most important factor going and normally will get its means, what is exclusive about that is we now have seen officers be prepared to strike earlier than. The beginning of the 2012 season was a debacle with alternative officers, and that was when the league was pulling in half the cash it does immediately. Throw in the truth that legalized sports activities playing has taken over the nation and the thought of those video games being positioned within the palms of below-standard officers is inconceivable.
And the NFL does not wield the type of energy over officers that it does over gamers. Gamers are, usually talking, unwilling to have a piece stoppage as a result of which means their major supply of earnings, which may solely be made in a finite period of time, not is available in. Nearly all of NFL officers have major jobs outdoors of the NFL. They will financially abdomen a piece stoppage way more simply than gamers might.
I did discover there to be some irony within the NFL informing homeowners of those unsuccessful talks throughout a digital league assembly that went digital this 12 months partially to chop prices. After which someday later, officers flagged the Falcons for essentially the most penalties in a recreation in 9 years.
The lengthy and quick is the NFL does not have its typical excessive floor in negotiations on the subject of the refs union, and I feel that union is aware of it.
What sources say about Burrow’s cryptic feedback
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Joe Burrow raised nearly each eyebrow throughout the league this week with his feedback about how a lot enjoyable he is having and his future.
“If I wish to maintain doing this, I’ve to have enjoyable doing it. I have been by means of lots, and if it isn’t enjoyable, then what am I doing it for? That is the mindset I am making an attempt to deliver to the desk,” Burrow stated.
“There’s a number of issues happening proper now,” the QB added. And when requested if his frustrations are associated to soccer or extra private, Burrow stated “the entire above.”
As a result of Burrow has a historical past of sending messages within the media, and due to Cincinnati’s historical past with sad gamers, many took Burrow’s feedback to sign he could both need out of the Bengals group or out of soccer solely. Carson Palmer in the end gained his freedom from Cincinnati, and it doesn’t appear to be it is actually been six years since Andrew Luck referred to as it quits at Burrow’s present age (he turned 29 this week).
However pump the brakes. I talked with a few sources on this who did not assume we’re wherever near the above situations. “Blown out” of proportion, stated one supply. “Loopy.”
“He was emotional on his birthday and pissed that for as a lot as he is labored, he is nonetheless not capable of win. That is all he needs to do. … If he can not win he is depressing.”
Burrow’s lengthy harm historical past is properly documented, and the Bengals are getting ready to lacking the playoffs for the fourth time in Burrow’s six years. However he has one other 4 years left on the most important contract in staff historical past, and I do not get the sense that there is any panic contained in the constructing about his long-term future with that group.
Panthers enter largest 3-game stretch in 10 years
Very similar to William Carlos Williams’ purple wheelbarrow, a lot of the Panthers’ playoff hopes relies upon upon beating the Saints in New Orleans on Sunday. The 7-6 Panthers simply took sole possession of first place within the NFC South after Atlanta’s comeback win in opposition to the Buccaneers. The franchise has not made the playoffs since 2017, and it has not hosted a playoff recreation since 2015.
If Carolina beats New Orleans on Sunday and may beat Tampa Bay subsequent week, the Panthers can have locked up the division. Carolina can lose to Tampa in Week 16 however beat them in Week 18 and win the division, too.
That is the most recent in a season Carolina has been on the prime of the division since its Tremendous Bowl run in 2015. Only a few of the present gamers have been within the place they presently are, and that is the place teaching comes into play.
Dave Canales has a training employees that has playoff expertise. He gained a hoop with Seattle, and OC Brad Idzik joined in late playoff success with the Seahawks. DC Ejiro Evero gained a Tremendous Bowl with the Rams and went to others. There are different rings on the employees, in addition to two Triple OGs in Jim Caldwell and Dom Capers.
As one supply put it, there is a “numbing sense” the place issues inside a playoff staff’s constructing shouldn’t and don’t change, the place gamers ignore the noise and keep targeted on sustaining the method. An enormous few weeks in Charlotte.
This week’s unlikely QB story: Brady Cook dinner
Don’t sleep on Brady Cook dinner this week in opposition to the Jaguars. The undrafted rookie quarterback out of Missouri would be the league’s 51st beginning quarterback* this season when he takes the primary snap for the Jets on Sunday with Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields each out.
I am instructed Cook dinner “has been giving the protection suits” at apply the previous couple of weeks. He does not have the most important arm, however he is an awesome processor and the offense can rally round him. Cook dinner faces a troublesome process in opposition to the Jags protection, however a very good exhibiting will mirror properly on him and his prospects with Gang Inexperienced as a backup in 2026.
Cook dinner was a three-year starter at Mizzou and left as some of the adorned passers in class historical past — second solely to Chase Daniel in wins and No. 3 in passing yards. Jets followers keep in mind Brad Smith, the do-it-all former QB from the late aughts. Cook dinner joined Smith, Daniel and Drew Lock as Mizzou gamers to amass over 10,000 yards of their profession.
* — Cook dinner could possibly be the 52nd beginning quarterback this season relying on who takes the sector first between himself and Raiders starter Kenny Pickett. Each are taking part in in 1 p.m. ET kickoffs, so we’ll know who will get the coveted 51st slot then.
NFL’s subsequent McVay hasn’t turned 30 but
It might be loopy to interview a 30-year-old for an NFL head teaching job, proper? Proper?
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski is a reputation you may most likely be listening to much more of within the coming weeks. Udinski turns 30 in January, he is the non-play-calling OC of the AFC South-leading Jags, and he could also be interviewing for head teaching gigs in about 5 weeks from now.
Udinski bought into the league in 2020 when he adopted Matt Rhule to Carolina from Baylor. Since then, he has labored his means up the offensive teaching ladder, spending three years in Minnesota earlier than becoming a member of Liam Coen’s inaugural employees in Jacksonville. He contributed to a number of the greatest years of Kirk Cousins’ profession, then the most effective 12 months of Sam Darnold’s profession and a resurgence in Trevor Lawrence‘s profession this season.
I’m not saying Udinski will get a head teaching gig. He’d be virtually 11 months youthful than Sean McVay when he took the Rams job. However the Jaguars can block groups from interviewing Udinski for a play-calling OC position, so the one means for a staff to make sure they’ll get him of their constructing for a chat is to interview him for the vacant head teaching place. Groups interviewing people for elevated positions solely hoping to finally rent them elsewhere within the group has occurred lots lately regardless that it isn’t presupposed to.
On the very least, groups could wish to attempt to choose the mind of the younger, shiny offensive star.
Belichick shuffles UNC employees, together with Kitchens
Invoice Belichick started dismantling his UNC teaching employees this week as he hopes to enhance on what was a foul 12 months on the sector and maybe a extra embarrassing 12 months off the sector for this system. I’ve stated for months now that the staff did not have a lot of an opportunity as a result of lack of expertise — its roster ranked within the 30s, per 247Sports — and that confirmed with simply two victories in opposition to Energy 4 opponents.
Whereas nobody who watched Carolina play this season is stunned to see offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens will not be with the staff in 2026, I level to the above lack of expertise and extra. Kitchens had three preventative coronary heart surgical procedures in 11 days final 12 months, I am instructed, which had been anticipated after his preliminary coronary heart challenge arose in 2013. So it was a troublesome begin to the season personally for him together with getting 70 new gamers on the staff acclimated to the scheme.
The previous Browns head coach in 2019, Kitchens has been within the faculty ranks since 2021. He is totally wholesome now, and I feel he will probably be within the combine for each faculty and professional jobs as these cycles proceed within the coming weeks.
I do not see Gruden touchdown Michigan job
One different professional/faculty teaching be aware: a reputation I’ve seen floated round for the vacant Michigan job is Jon Gruden. I really have no idea if Gruden will coach once more this upcoming 12 months or past, and it is doable that query will not be answered till his lawsuit in opposition to the NFL reaches a conclusion. However I don’t see Gruden to Michigan as a chance in Ann Arbor, in response to a number of sources.
Meals for thought if MVP turns into two-man race
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With 4 weeks left within the season, I would not shut down the MVP race simply but, however it’s clearly shaping as much as be a two-horse race between Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye. There will probably be loads of metrics to assist determine who ought to get the award on the finish of the 12 months, however one factor I might warning others (together with voters) in opposition to when contemplating who ought to win:
Stafford is about to play three of his subsequent 4 video games in nationwide home windows, that means his video games in opposition to the Lions, Seahawks and Falcons will go to 100% of the nation. In the meantime, Maye is coming off a bye and has solely subsequent Sunday evening’s recreation in opposition to the Ravens going to all the nation.
All of those video games are huge for these two groups, that are every vying for his or her convention’s prime seed. It should not matter that they performed properly in a recreation going nationwide. It ought to matter that they performed properly within the recreation, whether or not it goes to 7 % of the nation or the world.
I additionally will not maintain in opposition to one or each of those guys in the event that they sit the ultimate recreation of the season as a result of they’ve already locked up the No. 1 seed. Engaging in the mission in 16 video games is unbelievable and shouldn’t be thought-about a detriment to 1’s end-of-season awards on the subject of whole QB statistics.
Ravens doing flurry of offers; Broncos subsequent?
Final week I wrote on this house about how some groups are attempting to get in entrance of the potential spike within the wage cap by getting offers executed on the finish of this season versus ready till the spring. Very clearly the Ravens are a kind of groups.
After getting Mark Andrews‘ deal executed, Baltimore inked Travis Jones to an extension this previous week. We are going to see if they’ll get throughout the end line with Tyler Linderbaum, who has been one other extension goal for the staff.
One other staff to search for is the Denver Broncos. Quarterback Bo Nix will probably be on his rookie deal for not less than yet one more 12 months, and GM George Paton is trying to make some offers earlier than the tip of this 12 months, I am instructed.
Higgins’ harm places NFL concussion protocol below scrutiny
Tee Higgins will miss Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Ravens after struggling his second concussion of the season this previous week in opposition to the Payments, and it is dangerous optics for the league’s concussion protocol.
The NFL has labored intensely on strengthening its concussion protocol. In line with a joint evaluate of the method by the league and the gamers union, it seems all steps had been adopted final week when Higgins was checked twice for a concussion throughout the recreation. It was not till after the sport, as a part of the protocol course of, the place Higgins reported signs and was formally positioned in protocol.
This got here two weeks after Higgins suffered a concussion, and in opposition to the Payments he appeared to hit his head in the same means that had resulted within the earlier head harm. I am no physician, however it was shocking to see Higgins keep within the recreation after the primary head hit. It was beautiful to see him keep within the recreation after the second.
The return-to-play protocol is similar for any participant no matter being concussed a few times, and it is a slippery slope to vary any guidelines due to how issues could “seem.” However as somebody who has lined concussions within the NFL for a number of years now, Sunday’s occasions appeared like a spot within the protocol armor that must be addressed.
