Why Colts aren't playing it safe with Anthony Richardson's health

The Indianapolis Colts and Anthony Richardson left little doubt in Richardson's return to the lineup this past Sunday that they won't be playing things safe regarding his health when the second-year quarterback lowered his shoulder to score a pair of rushing touchdowns en route to helping the Colts earn a 28-27 win at the New York Jets. 

Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter later touched upon the Colts' mindset as it pertains to Richardson using all of his athletic gifts during games. 

"[If] you talked to a bunch of opposing defensive coordinators ... they're going to tell you when the quarterback is a runner or a running threat, that changes the math a little bit," Cooter recently said, as shared by Stephen Holder of ESPN. "If that math is getting changed, then they're having to make adjustments based on that math. And like most things in this game, when you make an adjustment one way, it ought to open up a little something somewhere else."

It's become clear individuals within the Colts, such as Cooter and head coach Shane Steichen, hope the two-week benching of Richardson will ultimately become a franchise-defining moment. That's all well and good, but any lessons the 22-year-old picked up because of his demotion likely won't matter all that much if he continues to suffer physical setbacks as a running quarterback. 

Injuries limited Richardson to just four games as a rookie before he missed time this fall because of what was reported as oblique and abdominal strains. The fact he took himself out of a game last month because he was "tired" could also lead one to believe Indianapolis should call fewer designed run plays for the developing signal-caller. 

With all that said, Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. noted some defensive players probably don't love seeing the 6-foot-4, 244-pound Richardson coming at them after he's picked up speed and momentum. 

"When the quarterback is as punishing as the running back, I mean, that's a tough task," Pittman explained.

Richardson will look to build upon what he accomplished versus the Jets and try to stay healthy when the 5-6 Colts host the 9-1 Detroit Lions this coming Sunday. As of late Thursday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Colts as 7.5-point underdogs for that matchup.