Colts HC reveals what QB Anthony Richardson must be 'smarter' about

The Colts believe they have something special in second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, the 2023 NFL Draft's No. 4 overall pick.

However, his rookie year was cut short after suffering a Grade 3 AC joint sprain in Week 5, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery to repair it. He also suffered a concussion in Week 2.

Richardson's dual-threat style of play will result in injuries, but head coach Shane Steichen believes he can be smarter about it.

"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."

Indianapolis invested such high draft capital in Richardson because of his ability to make plays with his legs and arm.

He flashed just that last season, throwing for 577 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 136 yards and four touchdowns in four games.

While the 22-year-old will likely be overall smarter in his second season in the league, he's not planning to change the way he plays too much.

"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 said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "Hopefully it doesn't happen again."

Richardson revealed that he put on about 10 pounds, putting him at about 255. So that alone should help his body better handle taking hits this season.

Richardson should still take his coach's advice after starting only 13 games in his college career at Florida. He has a lot to learn and must stay healthy for an entire season.