Philip Rivers has made a solid impression in his return to the NFL after five years. The 44-year-old quarterback signed with the Indianapolis Colts for the remainder of the season to replace Daniel Jones, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14.
Rivers has yet to win his first game in his return, but he has shown that he still has it. The Colts (8-7) are in danger of missing the playoffs after losing five consecutive games, and the veteran wants to see something different from his teammates.
The Colts will take on the Jaguars again this weekend, hoping to stay alive in the AFC South race and put pressure on this week’s opponents and the Houston Texans. However, they have work to do to achieve their goal.
Philip Rivers sends clear message to Colts teammates
Philip Rivers exhorted his team’s defense to play better on Tuesday. He notes that the offense knows how to do its job, but they need more from the defense.
“We gotta hold them. Defensively, we should speak up,” Rivers said. “We’ve gotta hold them to one less than our offense can score, and offensively, we need to say that we have to score one point more than the defense gives up. And it’s not this whole ‘who should’ve done what’—I don’t sense that from the guys at all. It just hurts. Shoot, I’ve been here for 13 days and it hurts because I care about these guys in this team, coach, organization—everything these guys have been through since May, June. The time put in… it makes you feel it hurts.”
Rivers has gone 41 of 62 for 397 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in two games. The Colts will close out the season against the Houston Texans next week.