Philip Rivers has no regrets returning after five years in retirement, despite the Colts going 0-3 in his starts following Sunday's 23-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
"I told you guys I wasn't going to have any regrets about coming back, and I don't," Rivers said, via ESPN. "Other than us not winning ... it's been an absolute blast for three weeks. If I go back and say, 'All right, now you know everything's going to happen, what are you going to do?' I'd do it all again. It's been absolutely awesome. So, yeah, I mean, if it's the last one, it's the last one."
Following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles injury, Colts head coach Shane Steichen coaxed the 44-year-old Rivers out of retirement in a last-ditch effort to save a spiraling season. With the Colts out of the postseason, Sunday could be Rivers' final game -- again.
"I thought the last one was walking off the field in Buffalo or walking up that tunnel," he said. "And I was fine with that. And that one had tears those few days after. And I was at peace with that being the last one. So, certainly if it is [the last game], I got three bonus games that I never saw coming and couldn't be more thankful that I got an opportunity."
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Colts are likely to start rookie Riley Leonard in the season finale versus Houston.
"I'm going to be on board and supportive of whatever the organization, [Steichen] and however that decision's going to come to be," Rivers said. "I'm sure I'll have some conversation. It won't just be a blindside Tuesday conversation from him."
Rivers completed 17 of 30 passes Sunday for 147 yards with a touchdown and an interception while taking two sacks. In three games since brushing off the mothballs, Rivers completed 63% of 92 pass attempts for 544 yards with four TDs and three INTs.
"I thought this is probably the worst game I've had of the three," he said. "Just couldn't get in really any sync or rhythm."
As for a second retirement, Rivers said he plans to return to Fairhope, Alabama, to coach St. Michael Catholic.
"I'll be right back on the sideline [coaching]," he said. "I'm sure many watching probably said that's probably where you belong."
