On the eve of Monday Night Football, the Indianapolis Colts and Shane Steichen made a notable roster move ahead of their Week 16 matchup. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t dramatic. But it revealed exactly how the team views its quarterback room right now and how confident it feels heading into a prime-time matchup.

The Colts activated defensive tackle DeForest Buckner from injured reserve, a move that immediately reshaped the roster. To make room, Indianapolis waived quarterback Brett Rypien, effectively cutting ties with its QB3 just days after promoting him from the practice squad. The timing mattered. Philip Rivers is healthy. Riley Leonard is available. The Colts no longer felt the need to carry extra insurance.

Buckner’s return is the centerpiece. The three-time Pro Bowler missed seven games with a neck injury suffered in Week 9. He practiced late last week, progressed to full participation, and was cleared to play against the San Francisco 49ers. In nine games this season, Buckner has four sacks, 13 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, and 42 tackles. His impact extends beyond stats. His 76.1 pass-rush grade is the best on the team, and his presence addresses a pass-rush unit that ranked near the bottom of the league without him.

That upside made the decision easy. Rypien was expendable.

At 29, Rypien had been the emergency backup behind Rivers and Leonard. With both quarterbacks healthy, the Colts chose to prioritize roster strength over redundancy. Rypien has played in 11 NFL games, started four, and holds a career record of 2–2. He might find his way back to the practice squad if he clears waivers, but for now, his time with the team has come to an end.

Colts insider Mike Chappell laid out the new hierarchy clearly: Rivers is the starter, Leonard is the backup, and tight end Tyler Warren will step in as the emergency quarterback.

Additionally, the Colts elevated wide receiver Coleman Owen and guard Josh Sills from the practice squad for the game against the 49ers, finalizing a roster that’s built for the moment rather than playing it safe.

This wasn’t about Rypien’s future. It was about Rivers’ present.

With a veteran starter under center and Buckner back anchoring the defense, Indianapolis chose clarity over comfort. In doing so, Shane Steichen made one thing unmistakable. The Colts are all-in on the lineup they trust, and they didn’t hesitate to act on it.

Philip Rivers’ unretirement sends shockwave through Colts locker room

When the Indianapolis Colts turned to Philip Rivers after Daniel Jones’ season-ending Achilles injury, the decision sounded unreal. Yet within hours, the locker room felt different. A team drifting at 8-5 suddenly found its pulse again. Not because of the scheme. Because of the presence.

Rivers addressed the team on the morning of December 10, standing before roughly 70 players. Fourteen had played with him in 2020. The rest knew only the legend. The speech lasted barely 30 seconds. Few remember the words. Everyone remembers the feeling.

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“We can get there. Why not us?” Rivers said, ending with a roar that lifted the room.

Running back Jonathan Taylor put it simply: “He is the definition of juice.”

The timing was crucial. The Colts had lost their momentum, and the defeat against the Jaguars felt like a heavy blow. Group chats had gone silent. But when news broke that the team was considering Rivers, everything shifted. Players started buzzing with excitement. The energy surged even before Rivers officially signed. Once he committed, the transformation became tangible.

Rivers hadn’t really stepped away from football. He had been coaching high school football in Alabama, keeping himself in shape, and staying sharp. So when Shane Steichen reached out, it was like opening a door that had just been waiting to be cracked open. Rivers worked out quietly for the coaching staff, and it was clear his arm still had life in it. The fire was unmistakable.

“He can still sling it,” receiver Michael Pittman Jr. said.

By signing with the practice squad, Rivers reset his NFL health insurance clock and postponed his Hall of Fame eligibility. For a quarterback with ten kids, this decision was significant. For the Colts, it sparked a glimmer of hope.

During practice, Rivers made an impression. He was already familiar with the playbook, and he took the time to connect with his teammates on a personal level. He learned their names and quickly built trust. The veterans affectionately called him “Uncle Phil,” and the younger players felt his impact right away.

“It was a shot of adrenaline,” linebacker Zaire Franklin said.

Named the starter against Seattle, Rivers delivered command rather than fireworks. He threw for 120 yards and avoided mistakes. He hit Josh Downs for a touchdown. The Colts nearly stole the game. More importantly, they rediscovered belief.

Now comes Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Rivers calls it his first actual home game as a Colt. The record shows four straight losses. The locker room says something else.

Philip Rivers is back. And the Colts are playing as it matters again.