Colts HC shares somewhat optimistic injury update on QB Anthony Richardson

Eyebrows were raised when it was learned that Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts planned to visit with the doctor who operated on the quarterback's throwing shoulder in October 2023, after Richardson was shut down from throwing due to experiencing pain in that shoulder on May 29. 

According to JJ Stankevitz of the Colts' website, Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen spoke with reporters on Tuesday and revealed that a second opinion essentially confirmed Richardson needs to rest the shoulder until further notice. Per James Boyd of The Athletic, Steichen previously mentioned that it was thought Richardson was "not going to need a procedure" before the upcoming season. 

"No timetable on the return, but we're going to do his rehab, and once the doctors clear him to throw, we'll ease him back into it," Steichen said about Richardson on Tuesday. 

As Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk noted, Richardson "is expected to return at some point during training camp." For now, Daniel Jones is serving as the Colts' temporary QB1. 

The Colts signed Jones in free agency to have him serve as competition for Richardson after the 2023 first-round draft pick left much to be desired with his play and dealt with numerous physical setbacks over his first two pro seasons. Richardson made just four starts as a rookie before his shoulder needed surgery, and he missed time last season due to an oblique injury and severe back spasms. 

Additionally, Steichen benched Richardson for a pair of contests last fall after the signal-caller removed himself from a game because he was "tired." 

In total, Richardson has appeared in just 15 regular-season games since the Colts made him the fourth overall pick of the 2023 draft. 

According to Pro Football Reference, Richardson ended the 2024 regular season ranked last in the league among qualified players with a 47.7 percent completion percentage and 30th with a 47.4 adjusted QBR. The Colts seemingly had hoped Jones' presence would push Richardson to improve, but that won't happen as long as the latter isn't cleared to practice. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, FanDuel Sportsbook continued to list Jones as a -166 betting favorite to be Indianapolis' Week 1 starter versus the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 7. Following Steichen's update, it sounds like the job will be Jones' to lose when Indianapolis players report for training camp in late July.