Why the Colts should be patient with QB Anthony Richardson

The Indianapolis Colts are no doubt expecting big things from Anthony Richardson after selecting him with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Nevertheless, the franchise would be wise to take a patient approach with the young quarterback.

Richardson may be entering his second season, but he's far from experienced. He'll be the youngest starting QB in the league for the second straight year, and only two signal-callers from this year's rookie class are younger — J.J. McCarthy (21) and Drake Maye (21).

Season-ending shoulder surgery limited Richardson to only four starts in 2023. However, his injury history is a concern, stretching back to college when he started only 13 games for Florida in three seasons, dealing with a hamstring strain, concussion and meniscus tear. 

Additionally, while talented, a lot of the offensive weapons surrounding Richardson aren't terribly experienced either, including three wideouts under 25 years old: Alec Pierce (24), Josh Downs (22) and rookie Adonai Mitchell (21). Meanwhile, the Colts' top two playmakers, running back Jonathan Taylor and wideout Michael Pittman Jr., have both missed time with injuries over the last four seasons. 

Yet, despite those realities, there is a belief that Richardson will hit the ground running this year, thus leading to success for the Colts. After all, the team finished 9-8, just outside a playoff spot without him; surely they'll be much better now that he's healthy. 

This doesn't seem so far-fetched on paper, but things rarely work out as hoped in the NFL. 

That's not to say that Richardson can't be the player the Colts have staked their future on. But, amid rising expectations, he remains largely an unknown and should be treated as such, even if he stumbles this season. 

Richardson has displayed the skill set, albeit in a small sample size, necessary for a breakout season. However, that shouldn't be the expectation in 2024.