Anthony Richardson has encountered another injury setback. The third-year Colts quarterback is dealing with a shoulder injury which will keep him out of minicamp, head coach Shane Steichen announced on Thursday. 
The affected shoulder – which recently experienced soreness – is the same one in which Richardson suffered an AC joint sprain in 2023, as noted by ESPN’s Stephen Holder. That injury ended his rookie campaign after just four games and cost the former No. 4 pick development time. The same is now true in this case.
No surgery will be required this time around, but Richardson will nevertheless miss valuable spring reps during his bid to earn the starting gig. Steichen added (via James Boyd of The Athletic) no timeline is in place for a return but noted he hopes Richardson will be back at some point during during training camp. The latter entered this offseason in an open competition with Daniel Jones for the QB1 spot based on his missed time and underwhelming play when healthy. This latest setback will give Jones additional first-team reps.
After his Giants tenure came to an end, Jones finished the 2024 season in Minnesota. Just like Sam Darnold, though, he departed in free agency. The 28-year-old took a contract with a base value of $14MM this spring and in doing so became an option to see considerable time atop the Colts’ depth chart this season. Steichen has previously made it clear Richardson and Jones would evenly split first-team reps during OTAs, a plan indicating the extent to which the position was unsettled based on how things transpired last year.
Richardson avoided a major injury during his second season in Indianapolis, but he still missed some time for that reason. The Florida product also found himself benched in favor of Joe Flacco at one point while posting a completion percentage of just 47.7% and a negative touchdown-to-interception ratio (8:12) on the year. Major improvement will be needed if Richardson is to solidify himself as an NFL starter.
Next spring, the Colts will need to decide on Richardson’s 2027 fifth-year option. That call will depend in large part on how he performs this season, something which will of course require winning the competition with Jones. For the time being, though, only the latter will be available for on-field work.
Ugh. He’s really talented, but you can’t develop without reps and you can’t get reps if you can’t stay healthy. And while he’s an incredible athlete, he’s not the elusive kind like Jackson or Daniels. He runs in a way that brings contact.
Figures…gonna be another tough season
it’s ova
Fork-stickin’ FINISHED
And here comes Aaron Rodgers…
Zero chance. This is what they signed Jones for.
Lucky for Indy fans that he’s already reported to be signing in Pittsburgh
2026!
🤣🤣🤣
In other news, water is wet.
The guy is awful and hurt all the time. He isn’t ever going to be a winning qb unless it’s as a backup who never plays on a new team and those won’t be his wins, just the teams.
Who are they trying to kid – this guy is going to need season-ending surgery, as they clearly mis-diagnosed him last year.
The new owner needs to pull the plug and do a house cleaning or the Colts will join the Browns and Giants as certain train wrecks this season.
Don’t forget the Cards, Falcons, Jags, Fins, Jets, Your beloved Bears, Bungles, Raiders, & Aints as train wreck franchises.
Those are all struggling teams but I don’t think any of them are beyond improving in some areas. The Browns and Giants seem to be determined to self destruct.
Once again the charmed life and career of Daniel Jones comes into focus. 1st he comes out of no where to become the #6 overall draft pick. He supplants a Giants legend at QB just halfway through his 1st season. Of course his play is below average, but has that ‘potential’. New Coach and GM come in, but he plays just well enough to land a top of the market (at the time) 4 year / $160mm contract. Plays horrible, but of course the team comes out and says it’s not his fault. Then finally not being able to see ‘Checkdown’ Danny anymore released and is picked up by Vikings. Now he signs with Colts and his only competition and QB in front of him, comes down with a shoulder injury that will keep him out long enough for Jones to secure the starting QB job this year. This man has the most charmed life I’ve ever seen by an athlete.
Good luck Indy.
Same numbers as Trevor Lawrence. And Trevor Lawrence has had a better cast.
I will guarantee you right now that the colts are NOT gonna give him his 5th year option. he’s too brittle.
Yes yes yes !!!
Arch Arch Arch !!!
He couldn’t throw before the injury. If he wants to actually you play meaningful minutes on his 2nd contract, he will need to reinvent himself like Taysom Hill.