Anthony Richardson is entering his second NFL season. The young Indianapolis Colts quarterback will likely have an up-and-down year. However, Stampede Blue analyst Jon Spradley believes fans need to be patient with him.
“Anthony Richardson will be fine, but we have to be patient with him. He is going to completely wow us, and on the next drive, we will be shaking our heads and yelling at the television. It is all part of the process. I am not overly concerned about his season stats in 2024. The only stat I am interested in is whether he can play all seventeen games. If he can do that, we are going to see some great things, and those great things are going to translate into even better things for the future.”
Spradley is right. Richardson is going to make plays that will make Colts fans say, “Yes, we’ve finally found our quarterback!” But then, at other times, those same people are going to say, “What in the world is he doing out there?” Fans must realize that Richardson needs some time to develop into the franchise QB he’s expected to be.
“We Have to be Patient” with This Talented Colts Youngster
Peyton Manning Had a Forgettable Rookie Year
Anthony Richardson played only four games last season due to injury. With that said, he’s pretty much still a rookie. He’s going to make a lot of bad plays this year, which is what most young quarterbacks do. Yet, fans must remember that Peyton Manning wasn’t exactly a superstar right off the bat.
The Colts selected Manning with the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft. Although he recorded 3,739 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns as a rookie, he also led the league with 28 interceptions that year. His Colts struggled, finishing with a 3-13 record.
Manning, of course, eventually figured it out. The two-time Super Bowl champ later emerged as one of the greatest quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen. Nobody thinks Richardson is the next Peyton Manning. But Manning proved you can still become a star even if you struggle early in your career.
Anthony Richardson Has Gobs of Potential
In the Colts’ preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, Richardson looked impressive on the game’s first drive. He completed seven of his eight passing attempts for 65 yards and a touchdown to Adonai Mitchell. However, things got bad after that. Richardson threw a pick-six and completed just one of his final six passes. Following the game, Richardson was criticized for being inaccurate. Yet, it makes sense that he struggled. He’s a bit rusty after missing so much time on the field.
Richardson possesses a ton of potential, though. If that wasn’t the case, the Colts wouldn’t have drafted him fourth overall in the 2023 draft. The 6-foot-4, 244-pounder is a big, strong quarterback who’s ridiculously athletic. He has a cannon for an arm and could eventually develop into a dual-threat superstar. Richardson is surrounded by playmakers like Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., and Josh Downs. Offensive weapons like that could surely help his development.
If Richardson finds a way to stay healthy, the sky is the limit for the former Florida Gator. Colts fans just have to be patient.
Main Image: Albert Cesare – USA Today Sports
