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Philip Rivers is back.

The legendary quarterback, who spent 17 seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts, has come out of retirement to try to save the Colts’ season. Rivers is replacing starting quarterback Daniel Jones, who tore his Achilles last Sunday, leaving Indianapolis’ quarterback depth chart in crisis.

Rivers last played in the 2020 season, when he joined the Colts for a season after 16 years with the Chargers. He led Indianapolis to an 11-5 record, throwing for more than 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns before the Colts fell in the wild-card round.

Since then, the Colts have seen considerable turnover, including a new head coach. But Rivers and Colts coach Shane Steichen are close from Steichen’s time with the Chargers in the mid-2010s, so the 44-year-old quarterback should be able to get up to speed quickly in the offense.

Rivers faces a tall task as the Colts head to Seattle to face the 10-3 Seahawks. Indianapolis is 8-5 and riding a three-game losing streak, and the team is calling on Rivers to stabilize the offense and keep its season on track.

Seattle is in the thick of its own playoff race, fighting for the top seed in the NFC. The Seahawks boast one of the league’s top defenses, meaning Rivers will be thrown into the fire immediately—five years after his last NFL snap.

The Sporting News is tracking Colts vs. Seahawks as Philip Rivers returns to the NFL for the first time since 2021. Follow along for updates.

STREAM: Watch Colts vs. Seahawks live with Fubo (free trial)

Colts vs. Seahawks score

 

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Philip Rivers stats today

  • Completions/Attempts: 13/20
  • Passing yards: 93
  • Yards per attempt: 4.7
  • Touchdowns: 1
  • Interceptions: 0
  • Sacks: 1
  • Passer rating: 92.3

This section will be updated after each Colts drive.

Philip Rivers live updates, highlights from NFL QB’s return from retirement

7:21 p.m.: INTERCEPTION! Rivers’ first pass of the drive is tipped and picked, and Seattle will win to spoil Rivers’ return.

7:19 p.m.: The Seahawks march down the field and kick a 56-yard field goal to re-take the lead. Rivers will have 18 seconds left and three timeouts to do the same.

7:14 p.m.: Bailey Grupe makes a 60-yard field goal and Indianapolis is up one point with under 50 seconds left in the game.

7:13 p.m.: Indianapolis runs the ball with Jonathan Taylor to set up a really long field goal attempt.

7:12 p.m.: After a first-down run, Rivers completes to Tyler Warren for a short gain, setting up another third down.

7:10 p.m.: On 3rd-and-long, Rivers  finds Alec Pierce for the first time today for a huge completion at around midfield.

7:06 p.m.: At the two-minute warning, Rivers is looking to get the Colts into field-goal range for a comeback win.

7:03 p.m.: The Colts bend but don’t break, as the Seahawks can’t punch it into the endzone. Seattle does take a two-point lead

6:53 p.m.: A third-down screen pass goes nowhere and forces the Colts to punt instead of attempting a long field goal attempt.

6:51 p.m.: A high snap blows up the play and leads to Rivers’ second sack of the game, setting up a 2nd-and-long.

6:49 p.m.: Rivers and the Colts are bailed out by a pass interference penalty call on third down, extending the drive instead of ending it.

6:44 p.m.: The Seahawks get another field goal to make this a one-point game.

End of third quarter: Colts 13, Seahawks 9

6:39 p.m.: As the third quarter ends, the Seahawks are once again driving and looking for their first touchdown.

6:32 p.m.: The Colts continue to lean on their running game, but they get into third-and-long. That leads to Rivers checking the ball dow short of the sticks to end the drive.

6:27 p.m.: The Indianapolis defense remains strong as it forces another Seahawks punt.

6:20 p.m.: Rivers and Downs can’t get on the same page, leading to an incomplete pass and a three-and-out.

6:13 p.m.: Seattle goes down the field and gets another field goal, cutting the Colts’ lead to four points.

6:05 p.m.: Back from halftime, the Seahawks get the ball back looking to tie the score.

6:00 p.m.: Here’s how Rivers’ high school team celebrated his TD.

Halftime: Colts 13, Seahawks 6

5:50 p.m.: The Seahawks get a FG to send this game to halftime.

5:40 p.m.: TOUCHDOWN! Rivers tosses his first TD in five years to Josh Downs on 3rd-and-4.

5:38 p.m.: Rivers has now completed six-straight passes as the Colts are in the red zone.

5:33 p.m.: Rivers is starting to heat up as he fires a strike to Tyler Warren for a first down. The Colts are driving.

5:27 p.m.: Another strong series for the Colts defense leads to a punt and gets the offense the ball back.

5:20 p.m.: After a few penalties end up in a 3rd-and-long, Rivers finds Pittman just short of a first down. However, Indianapolis is called for a false start, leading to a field goal.

5:13 p.m.: To no surprise, the Colts are going with a heavy dose of Jonathan Taylor, who has 12 carries so far. Rivers also gets sacked for the first time, as he slipped in the backfield.

5:09 p.m.: Early on, this game is a battle of the defenses as Indianapolis once again forces a three-and-out.

5:05 p.m.: Rivers’ completion to Tyler Warren is overturned, resulting in a fourth down and ending the drive.

End of first quarter: Colts 3, Seahawks 3

4:59 p.m.: The Colts end the first quarter with two-straight runs to set up third down

4:54 p.m.: The Seahawks execute a field-goal drive to tie the game at 3.

4:47 p.m.: Rivers throws another ball away, forcing a field goal attempt. Colts take an early 3-0 lead.

4:45 p.m.: On third down, Rivers finds Pittman for a first down. The veteran doesn’t have much velocity on the ball but has been pretty accurate so far.

4:43 p.m.: Ameer Abdullah takes a Rivers check-down 14 yards for the first down.

4:42 p.m.: The Colts open the drive with two runs for a first down, but Rivers throws another incomplete pass on the next play.

4:38 p.m.: The Seahawks go three-and-out, so Rivers quickly gets the ball back.

4:31 p.m.: Rivers throws two incomplete passes to Tyler Warren, and the Colts are forced to punt.

4:29 p.m.: Rivers’ first completion is a screen pass to Michael Pittman, who takes it over 10 yards for a first down.

4:28 p.m.: After three-straight runs, Rivers’ first pass is incomplete down the sidelines to Taylor.

4:26 p.m.: Rivers’ first play from scrimmage is a hand-off to Jonathan Taylor, which goes for two yards.

4:25 p.m.: The Colts win the toss and will receiver. It’s Rivers’ ball right away.

4:20 p.m.: Rivers is about to take the field in his first game since January of 2021.

MORE COLTS NEWS:

How to watch Phillip Rivers in NFL return

Colts vs. Seahawks start time

  • Date: Sunday, December 14
  • Time: 4:25 p.m. ET

Philip Rivers will return to action in Seattle at Lumen Field on Sunday, December 14. The game will kickoff at 4:25 p.m. ET, 1:25 PT, and will be one of five games in the late window.

Colts vs. Seahawks TV Channel

  • TV Channel: CBS
  • Live stream: Fubo

CBS will be broadcasting Rivers’ return on Sunday, as Andrew Catalon, Charles Davis and Jason McCourty will be on the call. Those looking for a live stream option can use Fubo, which offers a free trial for new users.

Colts schedule 2025

Date Opponent Time (ET) TV Channel
12/14 @ Seahawks 4:25 p.m. CBS
12/22 vs. 49ers 8:15 p.m. ABC/ESPN
12/28 vs. Jaguars 1:00 p.m. Fox
TBD @ Texans TBD TBD
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