Heading into the 2025 NFL season, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson remains on unsteady ground as he attempts to fend off Daniel Jones in an ongoing offseason battle for the starting quarterback job. And in the eyes of FS1’s Jason McIntyre, Colts head coach Shane Steichen didn’t do him any favors in the team’s first preseason game on Thursday night.
Richardson didn’t get all that much of a chance to show any potential improvements heading into his third season, suffering a dislocated pinky finger after taking a sack from an unblocked Ravens defender on just his second drive of the game in the first quarter.
Colts QB Anthony Richardson suffered an injury after taking this big hit vs the Ravens.
He exited the game and was replaced by Daniel Jones. #NFL pic.twitter.com/ukmwUTM0e0
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) August 7, 2025
Several NFL analysts, including Chase Daniel and Dan Orlovsky have suggested that Richardson was to blame on the sack, citing how Richardson should have either thrown the dump-off to the receiver in the flat far before Ojabo got to him, or simply adjusted the pass protection before the play.
However, Jason McIntyre shared another perspective when discussing the topic while filling in for Colin Cowherd on Friday’s edition of The Herd, explaining how starting two second-string offensive tackles alongside Richardson in the first quarter of Thursday’s game largely set him up for failure.
“I’m still hopeful that Richardson could turn it around,” said McIntyre. “Hey, Shane Steichen, why would you put your former top-five pick in a preseason game behind backup offensive tackles? What are we doing here? And that’s the thing. Joe Burrow played last night, was lights out for two drives, with most of the starters out there with him, and they look sharp. Now, I’m not saying Richardson is Joe Burrow, obviously, but I’m hopeful.”
“You better get your Canadian passport because you’re gonna be playing in the CFL pretty soon. That’s the negative side of Anthony Richardson.”@jasonrmcintyre is not impressed with what he sees from the Colts QB pic.twitter.com/W2QwAcaV6z
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) August 8, 2025
Despite personally believing that Richardson could make improvements in his third season if given the opportunity, McIntyre didn’t completely absolve the third-year quarterback of all blame, explaining how Thursday’s game was “not good” for his chances to start in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins.
“Folks, this is not good for Anthony Richardson’s starting chances for week one,” added McIntyre. “Now, it sounds like he’s going to be okay from the dislocated pinkie. They popped it back. But I don’t know, guys. Daniel Jones was in Minnesota at the end of last season. He looked around and said, Oh, JJ McCarthy, this guy looks pretty good. And Kevin O’Connell loves him. I don’t have much of a chance here. Where do I have a chance? Oh, let’s look at Indianapolis. Shane Steichen, knows quarterbacks, was excellent with Jalen Hurts. They got to a Super Bowl. And Anthony Richardson, after two years, doesn’t look like he’s really locked in. I mean, look at these throws, guys. This is year three. I’m not feeling good about Anthony Richardson.”
Fortunately, it sounds as if Richardson avoided any kind of serious injury. According to ESPN Colts beat reporter Stephen Holder, Richardson could return to practicing as soon as Saturday after X-rays came back negative on his injured finger.
Regardless, this injury, and the circumstances behind it, add yet another layer to the controversy-filled three-year career of Anthony Richardson thus far.