The Colts picked up their second straight win in Week 3 despite having Gardner Minshew under center. The team’s backup signal-caller will retain that position on the depth chart once Anthony Richardson clears concussion protocol. 
Richardson exited Indianapolis’ Week 2 game against the Texans after being removed due to the hit he suffered while scoring his second rushing touchdown of the contest. He remains in concussion protocol for now, and head coach Shane Steichen did not say for certain whether Richardson or starting center Ryan Kelly would be able to practice on Wednesday. Presuming the former is able to do so, though, his starting gig will await him come Week 4.
“Anthony is our guy,” Steichen said, via Akeem Glaspie of the Indy Star. “[Richardson’s] our starting quarterback, but going back to Gardner, a ton of respect for Gardner and what he does on a week in and week out basis. When he goes in, he operates at a high level and couldn’t be more thankful that he’s here and what he’s done for this football team.”
Given the Colts’ decision to anoint Richardson the starter after just one preseason contest, Steichen’s remarks come as little surprise. The No. 4 pick was tapped as a candidate to see immediate playing time as a rookie (just like Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud, the two passers selected ahead of him), and his success on the ground in particular – 5.8 yards per carry, three touchdowns – has earned him a continued look as a first-teamer when healthy.
On the other hand, Minshew has been efficient in his time filling in for Richardson and his Week 3 start. The 27-year-old has posted a 66.7% completion percentage while throwing a pair of touchdowns with no interceptions. Targeted by the Colts in part for his Eagles connection to Steichen, Minshew represents a high-floor backup option to Richardson, as he has already demonstrated in the early going of the 2023 campaign.
Richardson’s participation in practice in the coming days will be worth watching closely, but for now he should be expected to clear the protocol in time for Week 4 against the Rams on Sunday. As long as he is available, he will return to his starting duties while Minshew is relegated back to his QB2 role.
Is Minshew the new Fitzmajic? Long career BU bouncing from team to team that can win games?
Probably. He’s definitely a top 32 nfl qb. He’s the kind of guy that might land a long term job if he gets put in an offensive with a lot of weapons around him that he can just distribute the ball to.
He’s a guy the Bears should look at once they finally admit they were wrong about Justin Fields.
Bears need to admit that their GM & HC suck as well.
Why stop there.
Note: They likely already know this but they might be making an accounting to include poor player performance for the ‘Santa wish list’.
Minshew was an excellent QB for Jacksonville. The only reason that he was let go was to avoid the issue that every team has when they pick a first rd qb… Everyone wants them to start. Minshew has a better carreer TD to INT ratio than Lawrence. If he wasnt a 6th rd pick, he would be a full time starter.
He surprised at WSU until we got used to his magic.
If he was taller he’d of been 2-3rd round
Trust in the Minshew mustache – kid is a winner!
Minshew is better utilized as a supersub. It helps that the Colts are in a “weak” AFC South.
I don’t see how Minshew is better suited as a supersub when he has outplayed several players suited up as starters.
As a Gators fan Richardson looked very raw and inconsistent. Naming him the starter so early? Not sure on this one.
Why not? He needs to learn to protect himself better buts he’s looked great when he’s been on the field. Needs reps to get better
In Richardson’s case, his issue was (is) lack of experience. He is going to take some time to get to where he is a reliable starter, and he may not actually do so, but he would never do so by riding the bench. There are quarterbacks who do get better by doing that, but those players usually do not have trouble with mechanics or have more extensive experience.
Richardson ideally, in my mind, would have spent another year in college (ala Dak Prescott) and gotten more experience with timing, progressions, and being patient in the pocket, but it’s hard to turn down top ten potential in the draft at the risk of injury. The downside is that he’ll have to lean on his legs in the NFL, which carries a good risk of injury as well, until he can learn to be as effective with just his arm. Richardson is big, but not invincible. It’s harder to learn these lessons in the pros than in college, but if Richardson does succeed, the experience will be much more adapted to his current situation.
Decisions might be made on what’s going to be available in the next 2-4 drafts at a position of need verses ‘now’.
His mechanics show some positives and also where coaching is needed. QB is the most scrutinized position thereby acquiring greatest criticism. Keeping in mind his lack of starting experience and age I’d wait until season end to judge Richardson. Meanwhile ‘The Mustache’ can always be used to give y’all a chance.
Agreed.
Minshew needs to be a starter in the NFL. Shocked the Jets haven’t or won’t inquire about him. Minshew would easily lead that team to the playoffs. Not a Jets fan, but that team is loaded everywhere but QB.
I think that they know that he isn’t available. The Colts grabbed him specifically to be a safety stop and young but experienced resource for Richardson to lean on.
I agree that there’s nothing wrong with checking, even though they’ll know that they’ll be rebuffed. You’re 100% correct in saying that Minshew would be a great option for the Jets. Unfortunately, all of the good backups this year seem to be taken, mostly on teams with rookie starters, and most are newly signed. New York doesn’t have much to trade with, either. If they did, it’d still be nigh impossible to wrangle Minshew (or Dalton, or their old backup in White for instance) because those teams want those guys.
Honestly wasn’t super impressed with Minshew. He’s is truly a top-tier backup QB which is the 2nd most important position in football but he held on to the ball too long at times and didn’t have the legs to make a play like Richardson does.
Our playbook is clearly (like the Eagles) designed for dual-threat QBs and while a pocket passer can be serviceable, it’s clear teams are searching for either a generational pocket passer who *can* scramble (Mahomes, Burrow, Allen) or a dual-threat (Hurts, Jackson).
Agree, minshew is nice for a game or two but his lack of arm,mobilty,size,athleticism and overall skill set will kill you over a full season. It’s never minshew time all the time.
Go watch Minshew highlights with Jacksonville. The guy can flat out play.
Lol he sucks.
He will throw more TD’s in his career than Richardson. 3 to 1 Td to int ratio…
I wish the Steelers would’ve signed Minshew before they committed to Kenny Interception.
Gardner Minshew would have won ROY if his name was Kyler Murray with his stats and completion percentage being better than a guy who should be playing baseball right now for the A’s. His coaches at Jax sabotaged him his second season to guarantee the first pick and then traded him when he embarrassed TL in training camp. There’s athletes and then there are QB’s. QB’s can read defenses and make adjustments that win games by controlling the clock and reducing the number of turnovers. Richardson should be a WR but he has a history of concussions that goes back to Florida now and that makes him a liability. Irsay has too much control over this situation and the HC needs to grow a pair and hand Richardson a clipboard for the rest of the season. The reporter asked about Richardson in the post game interview of the OC as a trick question. He wasnt paying attention to learn. This isnt highschool anymore (the last time he had any real success), and you cant learn by not watching the game while your team is playing a defense like Baltimore. Richardson is a lesser talented version of CK and both will have the same fate.
What was Tom Brady’s 40 time at the combine? GOATs arent the best athlete. They are the best competitor. GM deserves his shot to keep this team on the win streak.
Having seen Minshew play the past two seasons, I can confirm the league isn’t missing anything. Yeah, maybe he’s better than some starters, but there are more backups better then him then there are starters he’s better then. He’s a good backup. Nothing more, nothing less.
I think that he did fairly well in Philly, considering that he never got any reps with the starters. I am curious, though, to see your list of backups that you consider better. I’m not saying that it is impossible, but what’s the standard that we’re using for comparison?
Been following Minshew since Leach poached him to WSU and he’s aggressive, unafraid, doesn’t give up and wins. He isn’t Burrow or Herbo or Tia but if he was the backup for LAC I’d be completely confident in the QB room.