OCTOBER 16: The newest update to Richardson’s situation comes from the team’s notoriously vocal owner Jim Irsay. According to Stephen Holder of ESPN, the team’s owner informed the media that Richardson could undergo shoulder surgery in the next week or so and is “probably” going to miss the remainder of the season.
“The most likelihood is he’s probably going to be gone for the year,” Irsay said this evening. “I mean, it’s not definite but (he) probably misses this year and we’re going to have to contend with that factor.”
Unless the Colts owner is misinformed, it’s looking like this will be Minshew’s team from here on out. Indianapolis is 3-1 in games in which Minshew takes a significant number of snaps after losing in his return to Jacksonville this past week.
OCTOBER 15: While the labrum in Richardson’s right shoulder is not torn, there is a “strong belief” that surgery is the best option for the rookie, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com writes. Rapoport ominously notes that “some reality likely has set in” for player and team, and that Richardson is giving serious consideration to a surgical procedure. As noted below, going that route would bring an end to Richardson’s 2023 season.
OCTOBER 11: After seeing Anthony Richardson suffer a third injury this season, the Colts are proceeding with caution. They placed their prized prospect on IR on Wednesday morning.
The No. 4 overall pick suffered what is believed to be an AC joint sprain against the Titans in Week 5. This transaction will sideline Richardson until Week 10, when the Colts head to Germany for a Patriots matchup. The Colts’ bye comes in Week 11, opening the door to the prospect of the team holding its starter out for a bit longer than the minimum waiting period. Judging by the latest prognosis, it sounds like the Colts will be without their starter until at least late November.
Richardson is now expected to miss between four and eight weeks, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter notes. Surgery is in play. Richardson is believed to be seeking at least three opinions on how to proceed with this injury. A consensus could produce a surgery route, which would put the talented dual threat’s season in jeopardy.
Although Richardson has flashed considerable promise, the Florida product has run into injury problems to start his career. He battled knee trouble in his NFL debut and left the Colts’ Week 2 game due to a concussion, missing Week 3. While Richardson made it through Indy’s Week 4 game unscathed, the shoulder trouble he sustained will cut into his developmental arc.
Gardner Minshew, who signed a one-year deal worth $3.5MM this offseason, will take over. This marks a second straight year Minshew will need to fill in for a quarterback who sustained a shoulder injury. Jalen Hurts‘ SC joint issue led to his breakthrough season stalling down the stretch; the Eagles standout did not require an IR stint. The Colts have Sam Ehlinger in place as their backup again, and the team signed Kellen Mond to its practice squad after a Tuesday workout.
Richardson beat out Minshew for the Colts’ starting job, despite coming to Indiana as a relatively inexperienced prospect. Minshew piloted the Colts to a Week 3 upset win over the Ravens and kept the car on the road to help the team topple the Titans on Sunday. The fifth-year veteran boasts a far better completion percentage (68.7%) compared to Richardson (59.5) and carries a similar yards-per-attempt number (6.7 to Richardson’s 6.9). The 6-foot-4 talent had already amassed 136 rushing yards, however, offering a new dimension to a Colts team that had relied on immobile veterans for years following Andrew Luck‘s surprise late-summer retirement.
Given Richardson’s raw profile, it was expected he would have early-career accuracy issues. This hiatus, however, deals a blow to a Colts franchise eyeing this season as a crucial growth window for the rookie. But they look to be in steady hands with Minshew, who has been in Shane Steichen‘s system for three seasons now. The Jaguars trading Minshew to the Eagles before the 2021 season united him with Steichen initially, and while the Trevor Lawrence pick and the subsequent trade ended Minshew’s run as a regular starter, this promises to be another opportunity to fill such a role.
The Washington State alum has made 25 career starts. He is 9-16 as a first-stringer, though most of those chances came with overmatched Jaguars teams. Minshew is a career 63.3% passer who boasts an impressive 46-to-15 TD-to-INT ratio. The Indy backup’s one-year deal came with playing-time incentives, which could boost the value to $5.5MM. Richardson’s course of action will likely impact Minshew’s earnings. Minshew would receive a $500K boost for hitting the 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% snap shares on offense, Fox Sports’ Greg Auman tweets.
After four seasons of stopgaps post-Luck, the Colts are suddenly back in familiar territory. But the Steichen-Minshew history does offer some stability to a team that spent 2022 adrift, leading to a 4-12-1 season and the Richardson investment. Indy is 3-2 now and looks to have a legitimate chance at beginning at turnaround this season.
QB’s have got to learn to avoid hits at all costs. Trying to squeeze out a first down in week 5 is not worth a trip to the IR.
It’s easier for us to say. These are grown men, dogs, being paid small fortunes to make plays.
You can’t make plays while on the IR.
I fully understand these are ultra competitive dudes and voluntarily going down is not in their DNA. But coaches have got to get it into the heads of QB’s that getting busted up going for first downs is the quick and easy way to end a season.
I think Irsay secretly loves it but I agree. I mean look at his last QBs. Matt Ryan. Foles. Brissett. Wentz. This is arguably Irsays most mobile QB who’s getting fans in seats and overall excited for a new era. If AR can stay healthy he can have a Jalen Hurts-esque breakout season in 2024
ATL – you forgot Rivers
Yes I did
Defenses and DCs like to test rookie QBs by getting pressure and hits on them. See if they can be rattled in order to get them off the game plan. That’s why letting them sit is an idea. However if you’ve a good O-line you’ve some advantage to letting them start learning year 1 – however Indy doesn’t have the beef up front
All three of AR’s knockouts came on designed run plays. For NFL GMs, now what?
Back to drafting to old-school pocket passers?
I don’t think this is really a sign to change anything when it comes to QB evaluation. It is more of a sign the Colts didn’t go about finding the guy who met the standards for other success stories.
These are common things you will find with successful QBs in the NFL.
1. Obvious physical talent
2. Played a good amount in college. Much more than one season.
3. Put up numbers in college.
4. Helped their team win a good amount.
5. Has the right mentality and work ethic.
Richardson has 1 and only the Colts have a good idea if he fits 5. 2, 3, and 4 though are things he does not meet.
Black. Did someone with football knowledge come up with these or are they yours? 2, 3, & 4 are meaningless if 1 & 5 are off the charts as they are with Richardson.
It’s Matt Canada’s fault.
Lmao I blame Taylor swift
With JT active again Minshew should be fine for 3-5 games.
The Colts were doing fine with Z. Moss.
Sure, but why drink Mr. Pibb when you have Dr. Pepper in your refrigerator?
Lmao
Richardson is already a really raw talent that if he is going to succeed at all in the NFL then he needs reps. I don’t think this is going to work. Teams don’t give guys 3-4+ years to establish themselves anymore. He might get half a season’s worth of playing time and face much higher expectations next year.
I still don’t understand why Sam Ehlinger wasn’t given a chance to start. Kids got a good arm and is pretty mobile. He’s no toothpick either.
He was given a shot last year. Did ok.
Did not do “ok”, in fact he sucked. Quite good in preseason vs 2nd & 3rd stringers; but looked small & was sacked multiple times. Not an NFL starter, period.
64% completion rate, 3 TDs, 3 Ints in 4 games. While missing Jonathan Taylor 3 out of 4 games. And missing other key offensive players.
He did alright.
Should have been given the rest of reason to play. What difference would it have made.
Why are teams so impressed by running QB’s? They get hurt more often and always have shorter careers. Chicago was winless w/ when Fields was running; when he’s thrown for over 300 yards, they’re winning. Not rocket science.
Uh oh, a labrum issue is more susceptible to re-injury than most anything else. It’s a thin tissue that is tacked back in place. It’s keeps the shoulder in socket. Older NFL fans may remember Cowboys safety Billy Bates and his constant separations – that was due to a labrum tear….
Indy can’t win.
I wish Irsay would keep his pie hole shut to the media and let his GM run the team.
Run first QB, limited starts and experience in college….would be a junior in college……teams never learn….everyone in the NFL is a physical specimen……talent isn’t decided by physical measurements…….hurt 3 times already…..