Last month, Anthony Richardson resumed throwing in a notable step forward in his rehab process. The Colts quarterback continues to make progress while recovering from a sprained AC joint. 
That shoulder injury led to season-ending surgery early in Richardson’s rookie campaign. He remains the team’s clear-cut starter ahead of the 2024 season, though, with backup Gardner Minshew having been replaced by Joe Flacco. Richardson could be back to full speed as early as OTAs.
I think he’ll be good to go for spring practice,” head coach Shane Steichen said, via the Indy Star’s Nate Atkins. “Obviously, we’ve got to limit it and monitor it and don’t go overboard, but I couldn’t be more excited to get him back going again.”
Indeed, a cautious approach would be wise on the team’s part with respect to Richardson. The 21-year-old suffered multiple injuries before the AC joint sprain which ultimately sidelined him during a season in which he showed flashes of the two-way abilities which led to his high draft selection. Added with the fourth overall pick last April, Richardson faces the expectation of giving Indianapolis a long-term contributor under center for the first time since Andrew Luck.
The latter’s sudden retirement decision in 2019 came about after multiple major injuries, and his absence has proven to be challenging to overcome for Indianapolis. For that reason, it comes as no surprise general manager Chris Ballard has echoed Steichen’s desire for a slow rehab process as it pertains to Richardson.
“I lived through the last one and I learned a lot of lessons living through the last one. Forgive me for being a little cautious,” Ballard said at the NFL scouting Combine when asked about the Florida product. “I know Anthony has made some statements that it’s important to be ahead of schedule. We’re here to pull the reins to make sure we don’t get too far ahead of schedule and we’re staying with whatever the doctors are telling us.”
The Colts’ OTAs are set to take place May 21-23, as well as May 29-31. That will be followed by mandatory minicamp from June 4-6. As things currently stand, Richardson will be able to take part in those practices in advance of training camp during the summer.
Bust.
Yeah, he did bust up his shoulder last year, but he should be good to go for the start of the season.
Hopefully he realized he isn’t Josh Allen running the ball. He maybe big, but his body can’t take that damage.
That’s right, the Colts should be cautious, even beyond Spring. Just because a player is big, strong and fast doesn’t mean he is tough by NFL standards.
Here’s the first five games of 2023:
Played in four; knocked out of three with injury
Missed a whole game due to an injury
Went season ending IR after game five
That’s why I can’t understand the NFL’s love with ‘dual threat QB’s’. They’re supposed to throw the ball, not run with it. Fields is another recent example. I have concerns about the LSU QB as well. The Bills are always bottoming out in the playoffs because they expect Josh to be their leading rusher, asinine.
To me, extra perplexing that the Colts went this route. The whole Andrew Luck NFL journey thinger is not that far back in the past in the slightest.
Colts could draft a day 3 QB like Milton or Hartman for insurance