Richardson immediately enters the NFL as one of the most intriguing high-upside, if-you're-not-first-you're-last kind of draft picks. The same people who targeted Trey Lance in the back-end QB1 range with hopes of a breakout will be targeting Richardson in a similar range. Richardson joins a Colts offense that swapped out Parris Campbell for some combination of rookie Josh Downs and Isaiah McKenzie, and with both Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce returning as big-bodied vertical threats -- the profile that fits Richardson's skill set best -- we could see him live up to his hype in Year 1 if the offensive line has a bounceback season. If you draft him as your QB1, pairing him with a higher floor QB like Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins or Dak Prescott makes a lot of sense. In rookie-only drafts, Richardson should be a top-five pick in one-QB formats and the No. 2 overall pick in two-QB or Superflex formats.
Colts' Anthony Richardson: Targeting Week 4 return
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Richardson (concussion) won't play Sunday at Baltimore, but the quarterback is optimistic about his chances of playing Week 4 against the Rams, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
At this stage, Richardson -- who didn't practice this week -- remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, but if the quarterback is able to make tangible progress in the coming days, he'll target a return to action versus Los Angeles. In Richardson's absence this weekend, Gardner Minshew will draw the start against the Ravens.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Ruled out against Baltimore
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Richardson (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Baltimore, JJ Stankevitz of the Colts' official site reports.
Head coach Shane Steichen announced Richardson and center Ryan Kelly (concussion) will not play. Gardner Minshew is set to start in Richardson's place versus the Ravens.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Slated to miss practice
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Richardson (concussion) isn't in line to practice Thursday, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
Per Stephen Holder of ESPN.com, Richardson was present for the session but is slated to be a spectator. Richardson thus has one more opportunity to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Ravens, but if he isn't cleared to play, Gardner Minshew would be slated to draw the start at QB for the Colts in Week 3.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Won't practice Wednesday
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Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Richardson remains in the NFL's concussion protocol and won't practice Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Center Ryan Kelly (concussion) will also sit out Wednesday's session, with Steichen adding that both players are "progressing well" as they navigate the five-step protocol. Richardson will have two more chances to practice in advance of Sunday's game against the Ravens, but in the meantime, Gardner Minshew is in line to handle first-team quarterback reps.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Won't return Sunday
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Richardson (concussion) won't return to Sunday's game against the Texans.
Richardson thus finishes up Week 2 having completed six of his 10 pass attempts for 56 yards, with three carries for 35 yards including a pair of rushing TDs. Richardson -- who was replaced by Gardner Minshew -- will now look to gain clearance to play again in advance of next Sunday's game against the Ravens.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Evaluated for concussion Sunday
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Richardson is being evaluated for a possible concussion during Sunday's game against the Texans, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
Prior to being forced out of the contest, Richardson completed six of his 10 passes for 56 yards and ran three times for 35 yards with a pair of rushing TDs. In his absence, Gardner Minshew is in at QB for the Colts.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Not on injury report
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Richardson (knee) isn't listed on Wednesday's injury report.
In the Colts' 31-21 loss to Jacksonville in Week 1, Richardson came out of the game for the final three offensive plays due to a bruised left knee, but both the quarterback and head coach Shane Steichen downplayed the injury after the game. The rookie's omission from the Week 2 injury report confirms that Richardson is healthy heading into Sunday's game in Houston, where the rookie signal-caller will look to pick up the first win of his NFL career after throwing one touchdown and rushing for another in his debut.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Downplays knee bruise
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Richardson relayed following Sunday's 31-21 loss to the Jaguars that he bruised his left knee late in the contest but will be fine, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Gardner Minshew closed out the game at QB for the Colts, and while Richardson's Week 2 status doesn't appear to be in any danger, it remains to be seen if his practice participation is impacted at all. Prior to giving way to Minshew (who logged two passing attempts), Richardson completed 24 of his 37 passes for 223 yards, a TD and a pick, to go along with 10 carries for 40 yards and a rushing score. The Colts face 0-1 Houston on the road next Sunday.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: QB Bust Alerts
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If you followed anything I've written or said this offseason then you know I'm excited about Richardson's outlook this year. But I want to see what he looks like in Week 1 against Jacksonville before starting him in one-quarterback leagues. He should still be started in Superflex and two-quarterback formats, and I hope that I'm wrong to put him in this category. Jacksonville's defense could force Richardson into multiple turnovers, and he might need to have a huge rushing performance to save his stat line in Week 1.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: QBs to Sit
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If you followed anything I've written or said this offseason then you know I'm excited about Richardson's outlook this year. But I want to see what he looks like in Week 1 against Jacksonville before starting him in one-quarterback leagues. He should still be started in Superflex and two-quarterback formats, and I hope that I'm wrong to put him in this category. Jacksonville's defense could force Richardson into multiple turnovers, and he might need to have a huge rushing performance to save his stat line in Week 1.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Completes six of 17 passes
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Richardson completed six of 17 passes for 78 yards and took five carries for 38 yards in Thursday's 27-13 preseason win over Philadelphia.
Facing the Eagles' second- and third-string defenses, Richardson led Indy's first-team offense for the entire first half and came away with 17 points on six drives. The three series that didn't feature scores were all 3-and-outs, and the touchdowns went to RBs Deon Jackson and Evan Hull on goal-line carries. Richardson finishes the preseason 13-of-29 passing for 145 yards and one interception, adding seven carries for 45 yards in two appearances. He'll get his first regular-season start when the Colts host the Jaguars on Sept. 10.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Will start Thursday night
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Coach Shane Steichen said Richardson will start the Colts' preseason finale Thursday night against the Eagles, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Richardson didn't play in the second preseason game after being named the team's regular-season starter, but he'll get in some more reps ahead of Week 1. On 29 offensive snaps in the preseason opener, Richardson completed seven of 12 passes for 67 yards (5.6 yards per attempt) with no touchdowns and one interception. Once his night against Philadelphia is complete, the 2023 first-rounder will turn his focus to preparing for his regular-season debut, Aug. 10 against the Jaguars. While there's clarity with regard the Indy's QB pecking order, it remains to be seen who will be handling the team's rushing duties early on this season, with Jonathan Taylor having been granted permission by the franchise to seek a trade.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Gives way to Minshew on Saturday
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Richardson's teammate Gardner Minshew drew the start at QB for the Colts in Saturday's preseason game against the Bears, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Per Atkins, Minshew and the team's second-team offense opened up the contest, with Sam Ehlinger presumably up next for the team's QB reps versus Chicago. Earlier this week, Richardson was named the Colts' Week 1 starter, so it's possible that the 2023 first-rounder won't see game action again until then.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Starts first preseason game
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Richardson made his first career start in Saturday's preseason opener against the Bills. The rookie completed seven of his 12 pass attempts for 67 yards and rushed twice for seven yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
Richardson's first taste of NFL action produced mixed results. Immediately after completing his first two pass attempts, the No. 4 overall pick airmailed his target running a short route and was intercepted with ease. It's not fair to criticize a 21-year-old in his first start in a tough road environment against a Bills defense boosted by the healthy return of safety Damar Hamlin. Richardson was able to settle in after the pick and even showed some touch on a high-arcing pass that was nearly caught for a touchdown. While he got the start in Saturday's contest over veteran Gardner Minshew (6-for-6 for 72 yards), the Colts have yet to announce a starter for the regular season. Richardson will get a chance to showcase his skills in his first home exhibition against the Bears next Saturday.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Starting vs. Bills on Saturday
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Richardson will start Saturday's preseason contest in Buffalo, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Richardson has been dominating first-team reps as of late, after having alternated with Gardner Minshew earlier in training camp. The Colts haven't yet named a starter for Week 1, but the rookie first-round pick will get a chance to showcase his talents under center Saturday. If Richardson can flash some of the playmaking abilities his high-end athleticism makes possible in preseason action, it could be hard to keep him off the field for long.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Dominating first-team reps
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Richardson is taking "practically all the first-team reps" at Thursday's practice, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
After alternating days with Gardner Minshew at the start of training camp, Richardson has dominated first-team reps in consecutive practices (Tuesday/Thursday) since missing Monday's session to recover from a procedure on his nasal septum. While this doesn't mean he's the Week 1 starter, it can only help to get more work with the guys who will be blocking for him and catching his passes if the Colts decide to enter the season with the rookie under center.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Back at practice
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Richardson, who recently underwent a nasal septum procedure, returned to practice Tuesday, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.
Richardson missed Monday's session but was back out there Tuesday. He handled first-team QB reps, which he continues to split in an ongoing rotation with veteran Gardner Minshew. The report also indicated that the rookie first-rounder currently checks in at around 250 pounds, up from his NFL Combine mark of 244 pounds. "That's just my body, muscle mass growing," noted Richardson, who turned 21 in May.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Logs first-team reps Friday
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After working behind Gardner Minshew during the first day of training camp, Richardson handled first-team QB reps at Friday's practice, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.
Coach Shane Steichen previously indicated that he plans to employ a rotation in terms of the team's QB reps during camp, so it's not a surprise to see the rookie work with the first-team Friday, with Minshew working behind him. Richardson, who the Colts took fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, is destined to become the team's starter at some point, but it remains to be seen if he draws the assignment over his veteran counterpart in the team's regular-season opener.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Signs rookie contract
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Richardson signed a four-year, $33.99 million contract with the Colts on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The deal is fully guaranteed and contains a $21.72 million signing bonus. Now that he's officially signed with Indianapolis, Richardson will report to training camp on time and won't be inhibited in the competition for the starting quarterback job. Head coach Shane Steichen has said he wants Richardson to learn by playing games, but how soon the rookie sees the field during the regular season will hinge on how quickly he picks up the offense in the preseason. Richardson and Gardner Minshew split first-team reps in spring practices and will likely continue to so in the early stages of camp.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Splitting first-team reps
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Richardson and Gardner Minshew are splitting first-team reps in 7-on-7s Thursday, George Bremer of The Anderson Herald Bulletin reports.
The Colts seem open to starting Richardson as soon as Week 1 if he looks ready, rather than defaulting to Minshew's experience and track record of competence. The fourth overall pick is miles ahead of his veteran counterpart (and most other pro QBs) when it comes to physical traits, combining a strong arm with wide-receiver speed (4.44 40) and linebacker size (6-4, 244). Even if he doesn't start the season opener, Richardson will take the field at some point during his rookie year.
