Colts head coach Shane Steichen on Monday confirmed quarterback Philip Rivers will be the Colts' Week 16 starter against the San Francisco 49ers. Steichen also said Anthony Richardson Sr., who is on injured reserve with a fractured orbital bone, has been cleared to resume physical activity but there has been no determination made as to when he will return to practice.
Steichen was firm in saying the 44-year-old Rivers will make the start at Lucas Oil Stadium, saying Rivers felt "pretty darn good" on Monday after his first NFL game in five years. In the Colts' 18-16 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Rivers completed 18-of-27 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown, but what he did for the Colts went beyond his stat line.
"Philip is the starting quarterback," Steichen said Monday. "I think obviously him being off for that long, obviously there was some unknown. But for him to go out there and do what he did to put us in a position to win in a hostile environment after that long of a layoff was pretty impressive. Getting us into the right plays, managing the game, I thought he was phenomenal in that regard. On the sidelines, his leadership, all those things that he brings to our team will be beneficial for all of us."
Richardson was placed on injured reserve in Week 7 after he sustained a fractured orbital bone following a freak accident during pregame warmups in Week 6. Steichen said conversations about whether or not Richardson will return to practice this week (his 21-day practice window to be activated from injured reserve will need to be opened) and/or be activated off injured reserve are ongoing.
"He's cleared from an eye standpoint, but we're just starting to work him back in the physical activity of everything," Steichen said. "The determination for him to return, we'll be working through that.
"He's just gotten back into physical activity, so we'll see how that goes."
