Philip Rivers: 'Weird' meeting Colts teammates after virtual offseason

Quarterback Philip Rivers has been in the NFL for 17 years but he admits this offseason has been among his strangest experiences due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"It is weird being in these virtual meetings," Rivers said during a Zoom video conference call with media. "Obviously, you text guys here and there and you reach out with a phone call here and there, but it’s just not the same when you’re not around them. 

"I think that interaction, the joking, the way you kind of communicate — it’s hard to fully get all of it and kind of have those bonds and have those interactions unless you’re in person."

Rivers spent his entire career with the San Diego/L.A. Chargers before signing a one-year deal with the Colts this offseason. Typically, he would have spent these past few months getting to know his new teammates but the stay-at-home has radically shifted that experience and he admits he misses the camaraderie you get with teammates.

"Truly, one of my favorite things is being a teammate," Rivers said. "I love being a teammate. I love that locker room and having so many different guys and having — because of a football, we’ve all come together and been able to meet."

But in recent weeks, Rivers, 38, has had the chance to meet a few teammates and says he can't wait for the opportunity to meet the rest of the Colts' roster.

"Here I am in Year 17 and going to a whole new locker room and being brand new and not knowing really any of these guys other than competing against them," Rivers said. "I look forward to training camp to get to actually be around these guys in person. I look forward to the few weeks to come when I’ll be around them a bit more. 

"It was interesting seeing — no reason to keep it secret — Jack (Doyle) and Parris (Campbell) the last couple days. I’ve been in a meeting with them for eight weeks, but seeing them in person and saying, ‘Nice to meet you in person finally.’ It’s certainly a little weird, but it’s been great."