The Colts view second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, selected No. 4 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, as a special talent. However, his rookie season was marred by injuries, including a Grade 3 AC joint sprain in Week 5 that required shoulder surgery, sidelining him for the rest of the year, along with a concussion in Week 2.
Given Richardson’s dual-threat playing style, which inherently carries injury risks, head coach Shane Steichen emphasizes the need for him to be smarter about managing these risks.
“I mean, it’s just being smart on when to get down,” Steichen said via Albert Breer of SI.com. “It’s a happy medium. There’s a time and a place where it’s fourth down and you gotta have it and the game’s on the line, where you gotta go get it. But if it’s first-and-10 and you scramble and you can make it second-and-4 and take a big hit or make it second-and-6 and get down, Hey, let’s make it second-and-6.”
The Colts invested significant draft capital in Richardson due to his dual-threat ability to make plays with both his legs and arm. He demonstrated flashes of this potential last season, accumulating 577 passing yards and three touchdowns, along with 136 rushing yards and four touchdowns in just four games.
While Anthony Richardson anticipates being smarter in his second NFL season, he’s not planning a major overhaul to his playing style.
“I don’t think there’s anything I should change. Some of the stuff that happened, it just happened. It’s football. It’s a physical sport, so it’s going to happen,” Richardson shared on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “Hopefully it doesn’t happen again.”
Richardson also mentioned that he has added around 10 pounds, bringing him to about 255 pounds, which he believes will help him absorb hits better this season.
Despite his confidence, Richardson acknowledges the advice from his coach, considering he only started 13 games during his college career at Florida. He recognizes there’s still much to learn and the importance of staying healthy throughout an entire season.