After an injury-laden rookie season, Anthony Richardson is looking to come back better and stronger for the Indianapolis Colts in year two. In Week 5 of the 2023 season, Richardson injured his shoulder after falling down awkwardly on a scramble. It was this injury that would sideline him for the rest of the season. Prior to that injury, he missed Week 3 due to a concussion. In the weeks prior to that, he did not finish Week 1 or Week 2. Both were due to concussion concerns.
The lone game in which Richardson played all the way through was week four against the Los Angeles Rams. This also was Richardson’s best performance, although it was in a losing effort. In that contest, Richardson finished with 200 yards passing, 56 yards rushing, and three total touchdowns. Many believe that it was this game that showcased just how special of a playmaker Anthony Richardson is for the Colts organization. Therefore, year two will be crucial for him.
Why This Season Will Be Crucial For Anthony Richardson
The Pressure to Duplicate His Short Rookie Success
Richardson displayed a lot of potential in just four starts with his explosive abilities through the air and on the ground. As a dual-threat quarterback, head coach Shane Steichen will have a lot to work with when calling plays. In just four starts, Richardson finished his rookie season with 577 yards passing, 136 yards rushing, and seven total touchdowns. What makes these numbers so impressive is that he still has to improve on his accuracy as a passer. Therefore, his ceiling is still very high and he will continue to develop and hopefully improve. The main issue is whether he will handle this level of pressure and in fact, improve and continue to build off of his rookie success. Colts fans saw a glimpse of what he can do and they are excited for the future.
The Pressure to Stay Healthy
The most obvious flaw in Richardson’s game is his inability to stay healthy. As mentioned, he was injured throughout his rookie season and ended up only starting four games before being injured for the rest of the season. If the Colts want to make good on drafting Anthony Richardson number four overall, he will need to be on the field and play. After all, he was drafted to be their franchise quarterback. Therefore, he has to be healthy and play. This season will be a great test for Richardson as all eyes will be on him when he gets hit. Will he get back up? Will he finish the game or will he be another first-round bust? These are questions that will swirl through the media throughout this season and Richardson knows that.
Even though a player might have all of the skills and talents to be great, if he is not healthy, it’s all moot. The greatest ability an NFL quarterback can have is availability. Right now, Anthony Richardson has not shown that he can be available for the Colts. However, 2024 can turn that around. One healthy season could make all the difference in how the league sees him. And one healthy season of his skills on full display will be crucial to his development as a playmaker.
The Pressure to Get the Colts Back to Winning Football
Since the 2000 season, the Indianapolis Colts have been a top AFC team and super bowl contender. However, when their franchise hopeful quarterback, Andrew Luck retired in 2019, the Colts struggled to be consistent and even make the playoffs. The last time Indy won their division was 2014 and the last time they made the playoffs was 2020. Needless to say, the Colts have been in a drought and the belief is that Anthony Richardson can take them out of this drought and get back to winning ways.
Richardson has the chance to get this team back on track this season. He has a brilliant offensive-minded head coach in Shane Steichen. He also has several explosive weapons in Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr., and Josh Downs. A case could be made that this season is playoffs or bust for the Colts and all of that pressure to make the playoffs will be on Anthony Richardson.
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