Ex-quarterback can relate to Rivers trying to find the flow

DeBerg was also 44 when he came out of retirement to start for the Falcons in 1998.

- SAM FARMER

PHILIP RIVERS, here passing against Buffalo in 2021, could again be under center for the Colts on Sunday.

As wildly improbable as it is that 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers has come out of retirement after five years to play for the Indianapolis Colts and reportedly will start Sunday at Seattle, it’s not the first time something like this has happened in NFL.

Steve DeBerg did pretty much the same thing in 1998, coming back at age 44 to play for the Atlanta Falcons after a five-year hiatus.

Even crazier, DeBerg went 71 as a starter.

First, Rivers. The eight-time Pro Bowl selection and Hall of Fame semifinalist has not played since calling it a career after the 2020 season. The father of 10 —who is also a grandfather — had been coaching football at St. Michael Catholic High in Fairhope, Ala., where his son is a four-star quarterback recruit.

The Colts came calling after starter Daniel Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles’ tendon last Sunday and rookie backup Riley Leonard sustained an undisclosed knee injury. Leonard was a full participant in practice Thursday, and the Colts promoted Brett Rypien from the practice squad recently, but it's unclear how they plan to proceed at quarterback against the 10-3 Seahawks, who are jockeying with the Rams for the top seed in the NFC.

In adding Rivers to their active roster, the Colts have reset the quarterback’s Hall of Fame eligibility clock because the Chargers legend has to have been retired for at least five years to be considered. Rivers made it clear last week that that’s not a concern.