Colts' Michael Pittman Jr. shares huge request for Philip Rivers after NFL return

In the fall of 2020, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. was a rookie when he tallied the first touchdown reception of his career on a pass delivered by quarterback Philip Rivers. 

That campaign was Rivers' last as an active player before he signed with the Colts to join their practice squad this week. He is now on track to start when 8-5 Indianapolis plays at the 10-3 Seattle Seahawks this coming Sunday, and Pittman made it known he expects the 44-year-old to be more than just a fun story for the Colts. 

Michael Pittman Jr. sees Philip Rivers as a playoff-caliber quarterback

"He’s gotta reset that clock now," Pittman said about Rivers' Hall of Fame eligibility, as The Athletic's James Boyd shared on Thursday. "Because we gotta make the playoffs." 

The Colts will be up against it regarding their pursuit of a playoff berth for reasons beyond the fact that Rivers hasn't taken a meaningful snap since January 2021. They trail the 8-5 Houston Texans in the battle for the AFC's final wild-card spot after Houston beat Indianapolis in Week 13. Following this weekend, the Colts will face the San Francisco 49ers (9-4) and the Jacksonville Jaguars (9-4) before Houston hosts Indianapolis in Week 18. 

As of Thursday morning, the ESPN Football Power Index gave the Colts a 25 percent chance to make the playoffs. 

Like Pittman, linebacker Zaire Franklin was with the Colts during the 2020 season. 

"I know who Phil is, and I understand his competitive nature. He’s probably the most competitive player I’ve played with or against," Franklin said about Rivers. 

Colts hope Philip Rivers has "still got it" 

As Colin Kennedy noted for the Irish Sports Daily website, rookie quarterback Riley Leonard had Rivers as a mentor before the Colts selected Leonard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Leonard was the only healthy signal-caller on the Colts' active roster until he was diagnosed with a strained knee ligament after Indianapolis' loss to the Jaguars on Dec. 7. 

"I knew he still got it, but it was never past that like, 'Could he come back and play?' or anything," Leonard added about Rivers. "But obviously, I knew, with throwing together, he still had it. I mean, there were times — we always finish our sessions with some type of competition…and when it was my day to pick the competition, I would have us sprint out as fast as you could and throw on the run or something like that."

How much of "it" Rivers has left in the tank could determine whether or not this experiment proves to be a disaster for everyone involved.