ESPN Reports Colts QB Anthony Richardson’s Shoulder is 'OK'

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jay Canale | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 3:04 PM ET

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Thursday that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. has recovered from his right shoulder setback that occurred in June.

Richardson’s summer has been equally hectic as his NFL career, entering the offseason in a reportedly even odds quarterback competition with former New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones, who the Colts signed to a one-year, $14 million deal this spring.

During June’s offseason practice period, Richardson experienced soreness in his throwing shoulder, likely stemming from his surgery to repair an AC joint sprain in that same shoulder at the end of the 2023 season. This soreness kept him off the practice field for the final two weeks of June, leading to rumors that Jones had become the frontrunner for the job.

If Richardson can enter training camp next week fully healthy, as the reports suggest, it will be a major step toward securing the starting job for 2025.

This is a critical point in Richardson’s career, as losing the starting job to Jones could mean that Week 16 of the 2024 season will mark his final start in Indianapolis, and possibly his last in the league altogether.

This might seem like a drastic assumption, but there is precedent to support it. Other teams often hesitate to trust these unproven project quarterbacks with a starting role, as seen with former 49ers third overall pick Trey Lance.

Schefter explained that there’s a chance Richardson will start training camp on a “pitch count” to prevent fatigue and another setback, which could further limit his ability to stand out next to Jones, whom Colts brass have seen on the field much more this offseason.

No matter what happens, Richardson needs to shine when training camp starts next week, as his career might depend on it.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: