According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, Indianapolis Colts 3rd-year quarterback Anthony Richardson “doesn’t seem particularly close to returning,” still recovering from his fractured orbital bone suffered during Week 6’s pregame warmups against the Arizona Cardinals:
While Richardson has been back in action at team headquarters on W. 56th Street, it appears as though he’s still on the mend and won’t be returning anytime soon to the football field. After a medical band snapped during a freak pre-game stretching accident in Week 6, Richardson was placed on injured reserve and was actually eligible to return last weekend versus Kansas City—having met the four game missed criteria.
That being said, it appears as though it’s a question of whether he may even realistically return this season at all.
The former 4th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft lost his starter’s job to veteran Daniel Jones following a contested offseason and training camp battle, but after being injured again, he was placed on I.R.—and rookie 6th round pick Riley Leonard has since been elevated to the top backup quarterback job behind Jones.
It could be of particular concern to the Colts, as Jones is reportedly playing through a fractured fibula as the Colts try to fend off the rest of the AFC South, sitting atop at 8-3, and having lost 2 of their last 3 games with the Houston Texans now coming to town. With the injury, Jones was moving around a bit gingerly last weekend, so his injury status is worth monitoring during the season’s final stretch run.
However, if push were to come to shove (but by his own personal account, Jones “is good go to”), it would be the rookie Leonard filling in for Jones right now—not Richardson, until he’s healthy again. That could potentially put the Colts’ playoff chances on ice, in the ever unfortunate case in which a backup QB is actually (and meaningfully) needed.
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