The San Francisco 49ers defense will face Philip Rivers on Monday night. The 44-year-old recently came out of retirement to sign with the Indianapolis Colts following Daniel Jones' season-ending injury.
The 49ers know Rivers well. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and the front office were in contact with the veteran quarterback during the 2022 season after injuries depleted the team's quarterback room. Although then-rookie Brock Purdy was playing well, Shanahan understood the margin for error was thin—something that became painfully clear in the NFC Championship Game when Purdy suffered an elbow injury.
The team's interest was serious enough that Rivers participated in weekly install meetings, a detail players didn't know at the time.
"He was always ready if the moment happened, and the moment didn't happen until the NFC Championship," Shanahan said on Thursday. "But we didn't win, so it never came to fruition."
Rivers made his first NFL start since 2020 last weekend against the Seattle Seahawks, completing 18 of 27 passes for 120 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
With a Week 16 matchup against the Colts approaching, Shanahan studied that Week 15 performance closely and came away impressed with what he saw on tape.
"He is a little bit older, so he might not quite be as fast, he might not quite be able to throw it the same distance that he used to, but you don't know that for sure because you don't get to see it exactly on tape," Shanahan said. "But I see a guy who knows how to play the position as good as anyone.
"I think he had 27 throws in that game, and every ball goes to the exact right spot. He attacked their coverages great. He played against a very good pass rush and was able to get rid of the ball. He's one of the best quarterbacks I've ever watched, and he definitely helped that team."
Running back Christian McCaffrey echoed that sentiment, expressing admiration for Rivers' return to the NFL after such a long layoff.
"Yeah, it's unbelievable," McCaffrey said. "I have nothing but the utmost respect for him. It's really cool to see. Hopefully, he doesn't do well against us, but I gotta say, it's incredibly impressive.
"I don't think people really understand how crazy it is to not play for that long, and then to come back and put yourself out there like that. So, the utmost respect to one of the best quarterbacks to ever play."
Defensive end Keion White said Rivers' experience alone makes him a difficult opponent, regardless of age or time away from the game.
"I was just saying the other day, those are the ones that kind of scare me more because veteran quarterbacks are, one, going to get the ball out on time, and two, know where the ball needs to go, and fast," White said. "And so, just trying to get him off the spot as quick as possible is pretty big this week."
White added, "You're not inventing something new that he hasn't seen before. He's played football for a long time, at a high level. It's just more so—the challenge is to be on our keys and be disciplined and play fundamental football."
For San Francisco, Monday night's stakes are high. If the 49ers win the game, they clinch a playoff berth.
Shanahan noted that Rivers' quick release and processing help compensate for any decline in athletic ability. No one inside the building is underestimating the Colts quarterback.
"You've got to be able to get rid of the ball," Shanahan said. "And to be able to get rid of the ball, it's a unique talent. It's just some people have it, and some people don't. Whether it's vision, whether it's arm-throwing angles, whether it's mental processing, whether it's just your feel and clear mind in the pocket.
"But when things are moving fast at an elite level, athletically, it's really hard to get away from those guys. It's about getting rid of the ball and letting someone else do it."
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