| Indianapolis Star
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INDIANAPOLIS — Philip Rivers is playing through turf toe, a person familiar with his condition confirmed to IndyStar and the USA TODAY Network on Sunday, but it has not been determined yet if the Colts quarterback will need surgery after the season is over. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss medical information.
Rivers has downplayed the severity of the injury, although left guard Quenton Nelson revealed earlier this week that the injury might be worse than Rivers was letting on.
Rivers has repeatedly said it won’t force him to miss time.
“I honestly told you all last week I had no concerns about being able to go,” Rivers said on Wednesday. “Certainly, don’t have any concerns this week. I think it’s just a matter of continuing to monitor a little bit of the soreness more than anything.”
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Rivers, who will be making his 236th consecutive start against the Texans on Sunday, has always been remarkably tough and capable of playing through pain. Rivers played in the 2008 AFC championship game despite a torn ACL and played through a bulging disc in his back in 2014, among other injuries.
Playing through the toe injury has earned Rivers even more respect from his Colts teammates.
“I’d say one thing I didn’t know about him coming in was his dedication to the game, his toughness,” Nelson said earlier this week.
The Colts have given Rivers the last two Wednesday practices off to give his ailing toe more time to recover.
But Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich admitted that it’s likely an injury that will bother Rivers for a while.
“The nature of this injury is kind of a touch-and-go deal,” Reich said. “It can get aggravated and take a step back, but what we’re anticipating and hopeful for is that each week it gets one step better. … I would think if we have no setbacks in the next week or two, it might be two more weeks maybe where he’s fully no pain again. I’m just guessing based on discussions and experience.”
