When Philip Rivers closed the book on his Hall-of-Fame career earlier this year, the longtime Chargers signal-caller appeared to be at peace with his decision, anxious to coach high-school football in his native Alabama while getting to spend more time with his wife and nine children. But with a quarterback vacancy emerging in New Orleans, the result of a season-ending knee injury to starter Jameis Winston (who many suspect has played his final game as a Saint), Rivers may be tempted to saddle up one last time before riding off into the sunset. Though the Saints have yet to contact Rivers, the 39-year-old would reportedly hear New Orleans out if offered an opportunity to start in Winston’s place.
Admittedly, Rivers didn’t look like he had much left in Indianapolis last year (his 260.6 passing yards per game were his fewest since 2012), though as a 2-3-month stopgap, the Saints could do a lot worse. Even before his injury, Winston wasn’t asked to do much, serving as a glorified game manager for an offense throwing on a league-low 48.5 percent of its plays. Beyond his durability, never missing a game in his 15 years as a starter, Rivers ranks among the most prolific passers of all-time, throwing for the fifth-most yards in NFL history.
Known for his odd throwing mechanics and legendary competitive streak, Rivers would, if nothing else, provide a much-needed veteran presence in the Saints’ locker room, filling the leadership void left by Drew Brees’ retirement. Speaking of Brees, Rivers' ex-teammate insists he’s not interested in spelling Winston, honoring his commitment to NBC’s coverage of the NFL and Notre Dame football.
Trevor Siemian surprisingly held his own in relief of Winston last week, defeating the Buccaneers on the strength of 159 passing yards and a touchdown, though he could be headed back to the pine soon with gadget man Taysom Hill—a favorite of coach Sean Payton—nearing the finish line in his recovery from a Week 5 concussion. Former MVP Cam Newton is not on the Saints’ radar, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk on NBC Sports.
Related
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram