The Indianapolis Colts could lose quarterback Anthony Richardson for the rest of the season? Who will replace him?
The Colts have been sweating on the status of the rookie. If reports are true, it could be that his campaign has come to an end before it truly got going.
It’s hard not to feel some degree of sympathy for the Colts’ rookie quarterback. After being selected as the fourth overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, the former Florida star came into the NFL to a fair amount of fanfare. Sadly, it looks like fans will have to wait.
Anthony Richardson’s season could be over
The Indianapolis Colts and their rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson are facing a tough situation. Following the team’s Week 5 win against the Tennessee Titans, Richardson who suffered what appeared to be a shoulder injury during the game, was placed on injured reserve last week after which he was reportedly diagnosed with a Grade 3 AC sprain. At the time, it was suggested that the 21-year-old would miss at least four games, however, as things stand he could be out for the rest of the season.
According to reports, Richardson is “strongly” considering having surgery on his right shoulder, a move which would essentially assure that his season is over. Interestingly, it’s understood that Richardson received four to five opinions on his injured shoulder, with one of them being that he should undergo a procedure to fully heal. To be clear, it’s the shoulder of Richardson’s throwing arm that has been injured, which is to say any scenario that can give him the best chance of a full recovery is the one likely to be chosen. As for the Colts, there has been no official word on when a final decision about Richardson will be made, but the general consensus is that surgery is the best option.
A look at Anthony Richardson
As mentioned before, Richardson was selected at No. 4 overall and if we’re honest, he’s already shown us why. In the four games that he played this season, he completed 59.5% of his passes for 577 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. There were also the 136 yards for which he rushed to the tune of an additional four scores. If you didn’t know, Richardson became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for a touchdown in each of his first three games.
Yet, it’s got to be said that in those four games, the specter of injury loomed large for the first-year signal caller. In the Colts’ season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he was forced off the field with a knee injury. Though he managed to recover in time for the Week 2 clash with the Houston Texans, a concussion brought a premature end to that outing as well. Indeed, it was that concussion that saw him miss Week 3′s outing against the Houston Texans altogether. Lastly and most recently, there was the shoulder issue suffered last week which appears to be the final nail in the coffin.
Anthony Richardson will be replaced by Gardner Minshew
With Richardson seemingly set for a long layoff, the Colts will likely be turning to Gardner Minshew who in all honesty has been exceptional on the season so far. The former Jaguars draft pick has completed 68.7% of his passes for 553 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions, while spearheading wins against both the Texans and Titans, before starting what turned out to be a 22-19 overtime victory against the Baltimore Ravens.
If you like you’re stats, Minshew could join Steve Young (1989) as the only quarterback in the Super Bowl Era to post more than 150 passing yards in multiple wins as a starter and multiple wins off the bench in a single season. Next up for the Colts is a date with the Jacksonville Jaguars and with both teams sitting on a record of 3-2, it’s going to be intense.