- The Washington Times - Tuesday, March 17, 2020

The Indianapolis Colts reached an agreement to sign quarterback Philip Rivers to a one-year contract worth $25 million when the NFL’s new league year begins Wednesday, ESPN and NFL Network reported.

Rivers, 39, spent the first 16 years of his NFL career with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers.

The Colts needed a reset at quarterback after 2019, when Andrew Luck shocked the football world with his retirement weeks before the season began. Indianapolis handed the reins to Jacoby Brissett for the season and finished 7-9, outside of the playoffs.

Colts coach Frank Reich spent three years coaching Rivers with the Chargers: one season as his quarterbacks coach and another two as the offensive coordinator.

Rivers is sixth in NFL history in both passing yards (59,271) and passing touchdowns (397). He is the only quarterback in the top 10 of either category never to play in a Super Bowl.

Could that change as he joins the Colts? It’s a narrow window — Rivers said during the offseason that he doesn’t see himself playing more than two more seasons.

The Colts have wide receiver T.Y. Hilton, tight end Jack Doyle and 1,000-yard rusher Marlon Mack to put around Rivers, and they traded for defensive lineman DeForest Buckner, a former first-round pick, from the San Francisco 49ers earlier this week. With the Jacksonville Jaguars entering a clear rebuild and the Houston Texans seemingly heading in the wrong direction, the Colts and Tennessee Titans look like the strongest contenders in the AFC South.

• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.

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