The New Orleans Saints are in a real bind now that Jameis Winston has gone down with a season-ending knee injury. Drew Brees certainly isn’t walking through that door and relying on a young quarterback to learn the system quickly sounds like a recipe for disaster, which the team may not have a choice with.
But if they wanted to sign a veteran quarterback who can step into the role quickly, Philip Rivers wants Sean Payton to know that he’s available.
Rivers, who retired from the NFL following the 202o season after a career mostly spent with the Chargers and one year with the Colts, told Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times that he would listen if the Saints gave him a call. Rivers is currently coaching high school football in nearby Alabama (where the team’s season just ended) and noted that he has not heard from them as of yet.
Philip Rivers tells me he hasn’t heard from the Saints but would listen.
— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) November 2, 2021
Signing Rivers sounds like a long shot, especially since he hasn’t been in the game for almost a year now. But if it’s simply about bringing in a stopgap to hold the Saints over for the rest of the year, they could do worse than a guy who threw for 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions last season.
Naturally, the NFL world had some thoughts about the possibilities of Rivers returning to the NFL and joining the Saints.
NFL twitter reading the @LATimesfarmer quote about Philip Rivers being open to a call from the Saints pic.twitter.com/4EYAnY90JS
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) November 2, 2021
Rivers in retirement but sees that the Saints and their OL are calling https://t.co/F4i90NnZ1S pic.twitter.com/WFztwV1PNC
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) November 2, 2021
Make it happen. https://t.co/5T7N9Yv6Sd
— Jim Ayello (@jimayello) November 2, 2021
Alvin Kamara would get literally 200 targets if Philip Rivers signs with the Saints
— Jarad Evans (@Jarad_Evans) November 2, 2021
Barring the quick return of Rivers, or perhaps the signing of someone like Cam Newton, Trevor Siemian is expected to start for the Saints for now. Siemian replaced Watson in the team’s victory over the Buccaneers on Sunday. Taysom Hill is also a possibility when he returns to the team following a concussion.