Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has played like the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year when he’s on the field this season. Unfortunately, the face of the Colts’ franchise is now dealing with recurring medical issues that have raised some concerns.
Facing the Houston Texans in Week 2, Richardson left the game in the second quarter with a concussion and was sidelined by the NFL’s concussion protocol in Week 3. Two weeks later, the rookie quarterback left Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans with a shoulder injury and missed the remainder of the contest.
- Anthony Richardson stats 2023: 577 pass yards, 3-1 TD-INT, 87.3 QB rating, 136 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns in four contests
Related: Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson diagnosed with Grade 3 sprain
Tests confirmed the worst, diagnosing that Richardson suffered a Grade 3 AC joint sprain is his throwing shoulder. Indianapolis placed him on injured reserve, automatically ruling him out for the next four games and he could be out even longer.
The 6-foot-4 quarterback is in jeopardy of missing significant time, with some reports suggesting he could be sidelined for upwards of two months. Indianapolis plans to take a cautious approach with its franchise quarterback, especially in light of some long-term worries.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer wrote that the Colts do have some long-term medical concerns with Richardson.
“That concern exists for the Colts, and it’s clear that Indy is trying to be judicious with Richardson in the run game as a result—after averaging 8.6 carries per game his final year with the Gators, he’s carried it only 6.3 times per game through four NFL games.”
Albert Breer on Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson
Injuries forcing Richardson to miss time have been a recurring trend since college. During the 2021 season with the Florida Gators, he suffered a concussion and missed time with a hamstring injury then had knee pain that required surgery.
It’s especially worrisome for a team like the Colts. In his first two NFL seasons, Andrew Luck sustained 73 sacks and over 100 quarterback hits behind the Colts’ offensive line. The persistent body blows took a toll on him, with recurring pain eventually pushing Luck to retire after his age-29 season.
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An even better example of Richardson’s case would be Cam Newton. The former NFL MVP, who stood at 6-foot-5 and 245 pounds posted a 117-64 TD-INT ratio with 3,207 rushing yards and 43 touching touchdowns from 2011-’15.
However, injuries derailed a potential Hall of Fame career. After experiencing 185 sacks and hundreds of hits as a quarterback and ball carrier in his first four seasons, Newton’s shoulder rapidly deteriorated. By the 2020 season, his NFL career was effectively over.
The lessons from what happened to Newton and Luck will likely have some influence on the Colts’ timeline for bringing Richardson back. Far more importantly, the numerous injuries already suffered in his rookie season could force the Colts’ coaching staff to adjust how it uses Richardson when he returns.