Are Colts worried about Anthony Richardson's latest injury issue?

The severe back spasms that sidelined second-year Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson for the final two weeks of the 2024 regular season sparked new concerns that he may simply be too injury-prone to serve as a long-term starter in the NFL. 

For a piece published Monday, ESPN's Stephen Holder shared why the Colts aren't losing sleep about that particular problem. 

"The Colts are confident the back issue is not something that will impede Richardson in the long term," Holder explained. "The spasms are believed to be related to the use of an orthotic walking boot Richardson had been wearing, which unexpectedly put stress on parts of his back. ...Furthermore, according to multiple sources, Richardson has already resumed throwing in the two weeks since the season ended. He's also back performing football movements." 

The Richardson era has mostly been a flop for the Colts since they made him the fourth overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft and then named him their Week 1 starter later that summer. He suffered a concussion in his second career regular-season start, required surgery on his shoulder after he appeared in just four games as a rookie and then missed time this past fall because of an oblique injury. Richardson was also benched for a pair of contests during the 2024 season after he took himself out of a game because he was "tired."

Richardson's injury history linked with his 15 career starts is downright alarming, as are his on-the-field numbers. According to Pro Football Reference, he ended Week 18 of the 2024 campaign ranked last in the NFL with a 47.7% completion percentage and a 61.6 passer rating. His 47.4 adjusted QBR was good for 33rd out of 43 players. 

Colts general manager Chris Ballard confirmed earlier this month he plans to acquire some "competition" at quarterback this offseason, in part because Richardson has "not proven he can stay healthy for 17 games." The 22-year-old also hasn't yet shown he can consistently be anything more than a spot starter at the highest level. 

"When Richardson returns to his offseason training in Florida, he'll be working on very specific areas of improvement with his team of coaches and trainers" Holder added. "Among them: refining his throws on short and intermediate routes and throwing with more touch. He'll be focusing on overall technique as well, such as his sometimes sloppy footwork."  

Unlike during his first training camp, Richardson likely will find himself attempting to prolong his Indianapolis tenure this coming summer. How he handles that pressure could determine if he ever takes another meaningful snap for the team that drafted him less than two full years ago.