Rivers Agrees to Contract

Rookie quarterback Phillip Rivers ended his lengthy holdout, agreeing to terms on a six-year contract with the San Diego Chargers on Monday night.

The contract will pay Rivers $40.5 million, including a $14.25-million signing bonus. He can earn $10 million more in incentives.

Rivers, taken by the New York Giants with the No. 4 pick in this year’s draft, was acquired by the Chargers in the deal that sent quarterback Eli Manning to New York. Manning was selected by San Diego with the No. 1 overall pick.

Rivers missed four weeks of training camp and two exhibition games.

The 6-foot-5 Rivers is unlikely to get the starting job immediately. In his absence, three-year veteran Drew Brees has performed well and will probably lead the team at the start of the season.

The Chargers have other healthy quarterbacks on the roster, including free agent Joe Germaine and Cleo Lemon, the team’s No. 3 quarterback last season. Doug Flutie was sidelined after having surgery on his left knee but is now practicing.

Rivers set an NCAA record with 51 career starts at North Carolina State and is the second-leading passer in NCAA history with 13,484 yards.