Anthony Richardson is a bust. He’s just not an NFL quarterback. The Indianapolis Colts wasted a draft pick. Sadly, statements like those are often made by fans and pundits.
And those statements make sense, seeing how Richardson’s career has gone thus far. Sure, he could turn out to be the next JaMarcus Russell. Or on other words, he could be another quarterback who was drafted high, but failed to make a major impact.
And Anthony Richardson certainly isn’t a star by any stretch of the imagination. Nobody will argue with that. But just because he hasn’t become a star yet doesn’t mean he won’t or can’t become one.
Yes, Anthony Richardson Can Still Be a Star with the Indianapolis Colts
His Career in Indy
The Colts drafted Anthony Richardson fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. He was supposed to become the team’s first franchise quarterback since Andrew Luck’s retirement in 2019. But that hasn’t been the case, at least not yet.
Due to injury, Richardson missed all but four games as a rookie. He returned to the field the following season, hoping to win Comeback Player of the Year Honors. Yet, he had another disappointing year. Richardson battled injuries, was benched temporarily, and struggled with accuracy issues. In 2024, he passed for 1,814 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed for 499 yards and six touchdowns. In addition, he posted a 6-5 record as Indy’s starter.
Richardson did have a few great moments in 2024. He had a game-winning touchdown run in Week 11 against the New York Jets. Then, in Week 13 versus the New England Patriots, he orchestrated a 19-play drive capped off with a two-point conversion.
Last season, Richardson lost his starting job to newcomer Daniel Jones. On October 13, Richardson was placed on injured reserve after fracturing the orbital bone in his eye during pregame warmups. He appeared in just two games last season, completing one of his two passes (to himself) for nine yards.
Will He Become QB1 in Indianapolis?
Earlier this offseason, the Colts gave Anthony Richardson permission to seek a trade. Many people expected him to be traded as teams are always in need of a quarterback. Yet, a deal never materialized and Richardson remains in Indianapolis.
Daniel Jones, who the Colts re-signed this offseason, will be the team’s starter in 2026. The former Duke star turned his career around in Indianapolis and looked like an MVP candidate early on last season.
Meanwhile, Richardson (if he isn’t traded) is expected to compete with second-year quarterback Riley Leonard to be Jones’ primary backup. That means Richardson will either be the second or third quarterback on the Colts’ depth chart. However, he still has a chance to eventually be the starter.
How is that? Well, Jones has battled injuries throughout his career. He suffered a torn Achilles last year. If he gets hurt again next season (knock on wood) and Leonard struggles, Richardson could become QB1. And there’s a possibility he could finally succeed in that situation.
To become a star in Indy, Richardson, of course, must stay healthy. Unfortunately, that’s something he has failed to do thus far.
Richardson also needs to improve his accuracy. He has completed only 50.6 percent of his passes during his career. No, that’s not very good at all.
While he struggles to stay healthy and has accuracy issues, he’s one of the most athletic quarterbacks the NFL world has ever witnessed. If Richardson gets another opportunity to start in Indianapolis, and he can somehow find a way to improve, don’t be surprised if he becomes the star he was supposed to be. The potential is there.
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