Colts' Shane Steichen discusses Anthony Richardson protecting himself

Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter recently discussed how Anthony Richardson needs to be available for more than a handful of games after the quarterback endured multiple physical setbacks as a rookie. 

Colts head coach Shane Steichen addressed the topic during a chat with NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

"It’s just being smart on when to get down," Steichen said about Richardson. "There’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—we had this conversation today—and you scramble, and you can make it second-and-four and take a big hit, or make it second-and-six and get down, hey, let’s make it second-and-six." 

Indianapolis made Richardson the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft even though he recorded just 13 college starts in part because he measured 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds before he impressed coaches and scouts at the NFL Combine. However, his size and athleticism didn't prevent him from being shaken up in Week 1 before he suffered a concussion in Week 2. 

Most worrisome, the 21-year-old's rookie campaign ended after he played in just four regular-season games because of an injury to his throwing shoulder that required him to have surgery. 

Steichen named Richardson the starter shortly after Indianapolis' first preseason game last August, meaning the coaching staff never planned for the signal-caller to develop as a sidelined spectator. 

Breer asked Steichen if the Colts and Richardson ultimately will view what occurred last fall as somewhat of a blessing in disguise for the franchise. 

"You never want to see your guy get hurt," Steichen responded. "But you try to look at the positive in it. You have some time to sit back and look at things from a different perspective. Obviously, the best way you learn is by playing, so missing that time is tough. But you gotta look at the flip side of it, of, 'What can I get out of it now that I am hurt? What am I putting into it? How am I going to get better by not being on the field?'"

As of Monday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Richardson fourth among the betting favorites at +750 odds to win the Comeback Player of the Year Award for the 2024 season. Steichen and Co. hope Richardson won't be eligible for that particular honor again anytime soon.