Colts' Philip Rivers facing big hurdle to play vs. Seahawks in Week 15

Colts' Philip Rivers facing big hurdle to play vs. Seahawks in Week 15 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Indianapolis Colts have added quarterback Philip Rivers to their practice squad in the hopes he can save their season after the Daniel Jones injury, but he is not guaranteed to be ready to play in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks.

Rivers' return from retirement comes at the age of 44 and five years after he last played a snap in the NFL, so it's fair to wonder if he will need more time to get ready before seeing the field. 

By all accounts, Rivers impressed the Colts in his workout with his arm, which doesn't appear to have lost much despite the long layoff.

However, as ESPN's Stephen Holder and Jeremy Fowler report, a team source said that Rivers isn't in football shape yet, which could prevent him from suiting up on Sunday.

"He needs to get in football shape, but there's no question he can throw it," the team source told Holder and Fowler.

The ESPN report adds the Colts are going to see how Rivers responds to practice this week before making a decision, and the team is even changing things up on Wednesday for Rivers, opting for a normal practice instead of a walk-through.

"That process begins in earnest Wednesday. The Colts originally were scheduled for a walk-through on Wednesday, but that was changed on Tuesday when they announced plans for a formal practice," the ESPN report said.

"Sources maintain that how Rivers handles his first week of practice will determine whether he plays Sunday," Holder and Fowler added.

We know Rivers can still sling it, but he's also got to be able to avoid the pass-rush, something that will be an issue by default given Seattle's elite unit.

Rivers has the savvy and awareness to help his cause, but if he's gassed from not being in ideal shape, that will make his life much more difficult on many fronts, including being able to avoid the rush.

On the flip side, Rivers and the Colts might have no choice but to send him out there given the desperate situation.

Not only do the Colts have little margin for error now that they are on the outside looking in for the playoffs, but rookie Riley Leonard, who was slated to start with Jones on the shelf, is dealing with a knee injury that leaves his status up in the air.

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