He likely takes less because he gets rid of the ball quickly.
5 years ago, this was true.
Very much TBD in the YooL 2025.
The principles of self preservation suggest he's going to be better (rather than worse) at getting the ball out quickly.
The principals of human aging suggest his twitch reflexes will be significantly worse, as well as his physical ability to throw the ball. Additionally I question whether someone who hasn't taken a snap in almost 5 years can read a defense, or make his checkdowns at NFL game speed.
Perhaps we'll find out. If I were a betting man, I'd wager against a high degree of success. Even QBs who played every game of a season can miss 1-2 games with an injury and be rusty. This is 5 years of rust.
Just keeping it real. I like the dude - he's a fun personality. I don't give this a high chance at being a successful experiment.
I just googled "does Philip Rivers have a quick release?" and here is the AI reply...
Yes, Philip Rivers is famous for having an exceptionally
quick release, often described as very fast, short, and even sidearm, allowing him to get the ball out rapidly to beat blitzes and make plays despite lacking elite mobility. His quick release was a key asset throughout his career, helping him destroy blitzes and work through progressions quickly.
Key aspects of his release:
- Speed: He could get the ball out of his hand faster than many other quarterbacks.
- Style: Known for a low, sidearm, or push release, which was short and fast.
- Impact: This quick release was crucial for his success, especially against pressure, as he could deliver the ball to playmakers in space before the defense could react.
As
@habsfan suggested, Rivers is human and doesn't want to get destroyed. He will get rid of the ball quickly, like he always has. Heck, I'm 60 and could avoid a sack by throwing the ball before someone creams me. Where it goes I have no idea, but at the end of the play, I'll still be upright (unless I throw a pick, in which case I will immediately lay down so nobody can touch me).
Full disclosure - I think if Rivers plays, it will be like Brady's last season. Even though Tom led the league in pass completions and attempts, it may very well have been his worst year. He had his worst QBR, and his lowest yards per attempt since 2002. His TD percentage was the lowest of his career, but his sack percentage of 2.91% was the 2nd best of his career. He survived by staying upright and throwing quick short passes. He avoided INT's and rushed for -1 yard. He also finished with his only losing season in 23 years. I'm not expecting much from Rivers if he plays, but if he does, he won't be taking alot of sacks, and his quick release will be there. The players to be most worried about for fantasy purposes are the field stretchers like Alec Pierce and Ashton Dulin. You may even see JT get more targets, as his highest catch-to-run ratio was with Rivers at QB, just like Fournette's highest catch-to-run ratio was Brady's final season.
For his sake, I hope they keep Rivers on the bench until they play SF in week 16.