Last season, Anthony Richardson suffered an injury that kept him out for most of the season, preventing him from leading the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs. Richardson had promising stats with three touchdown passes and only one interception in four games, with the team at 2-2 before Gardner Minshew II took over and guided them to a 9-8 record. Houston Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud emerged as a standout, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and leading his team to a playoff victory. Richardson, however, believes that playing in the NFL is “easier” than in college, noting that in the league, everyone is working hard to keep their job and perform at their best.
Richardson was the starting quarterback at Florida for one full season before entering the NFL. He compared the confidence and competitiveness of players in college versus the pros, expressing that in college, players may rely on others to make plays, whereas in the NFL, everyone is focused on performing their best to secure their spot on the team. Despite the challenges he faced in his first season with the Colts, Richardson remains confident in his abilities and believes in focusing on doing his job well to help the team succeed. With scrutiny mounting over his performance, Colts fans are hopeful that Richardson can stay healthy and lead the team back to the top of their division.
Recently, Richardson was rested during the final day of minicamp due to some soreness in his throwing shoulder, though coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Richardson would have started if a game was scheduled for that day. This precautionary measure was taken to ensure Richardson’s well-being and readiness for the upcoming season. The Colts also have quarterbacks Joe Flacco, Sam Ehlinger, and undrafted rookie Kedon Clovis on the roster to provide depth and options at the position. As the Colts prepare for the new season, Richardson’s health and performance will be closely monitored as fans and the team look to make a strong playoff push and contend for a division title.
