When the Indianapolis Colts drafted Anthony Richardson fourth overall in 2023, they thought they would finally put a stop to the revolving door behind center they've had to deal with since Andrew Luck retired. However, that hasn't been the case. In fact, they should start to worry about his viability as a starting NFL quarterback after the latest update. On the other hand, the Jacksonville Jaguars could benefit from the news and get a massive edge next season as a result.
James Boyd of The Athletic reports that Richardson will miss time but will be back "at some point" in training camp.
According to head coach Shane Steichen, the third-year quarterback suffered a shoulder injury in his throwing shoulder one week prior.
Boyd adds that the injury is on the same AC joint he previously hurt. But for the time being, it doesn't look like he'll need surgery.
All things considered, when you take into account that Richardson has been underwhelming the past seasons and needs as much practice as possible if he wants to put it all together. The former Florida Gator certainly has potential, showing promise as a rookie before suffering an AC tear that abruptly put an end to his season.
Richardson was back in 2024 but was inconsistent, completing a paltry 47.7 percent of his throws for 1,814 yards with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Not surprisingly, Indy brougth in 2019 first-round pick Daniel Jones and insurance, but it's hard to call him an upgrade when you consider that he was a massive flop for the New York Giants.
The Colts will have to lean on Daniel Jones with Anthony Richardson out
Under the right circumstances, Daniel Jones can be a mid-tier quarterback. Back in 2022, he played well enough to help the New York Giants make the playoffs and earn an extension. Having said that, once he had to put the team on his shoulders, he came crashing down. Things got so bad that the G-Men moved on from him last year, even though they had just given him a new deal one year prior.
Jones spent the remainder of 2024 and has surely benefited from a change of scenery. That said, expecting him to turn the Colts into an offensive powerhouse may be unrealistic. And that's the thing, with Richardson sidelined for the foreseeable future, they have no other choice but to lean on him.
Granted, Richardson is expected to come back at some point before the regular season, but he will be behind. All those reps he should be getting will be going to Jones. On top of that, he may not be at full strength even if he's on time for training camp.
The bottom line is that the Colts shouldn't be feeling great about their quarterback situation. Maybe Anthony Richardson's injury isn't truly a reason for concern, or perhaps Daniel Jones will bounce back. However, there's an equal chance they'll press the reset button next offseason depending on how things play out.
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