Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is reportedly very hopeful that he’ll be back on the field for Week 6 vs. Titans.
According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback Anthony Richardson is ‘extremely optimistic’ about playing in Week 6 on the road against the AFC South rival Tennessee Titans:
Regarding Colts QB Anthony Richardson: His status was never really a game-time decision. Him moving effectively and being himself was really the question, I’m told. But there’s been significant improvement in his oblique and he is extremely optimistic about playing in Week 6.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) October 6, 2024
Richardson sat out this past weekend’s loss against another divisional rival, the Jacksonville Jaguars, due to a hip/oblique injury suffered in Week 4—but was seen conducting limited pre-game warmup work before kickoff on Sunday, meaning he’s realistically close to returning to the football field.
Of course, given how well longtime NFL veteran quarterback Joe Flacco fared in his Colts starting debut in relief of Richardson against the Jaguars defense (and without star workhorse Jonathan Taylor to boot), completing 33 of 44 passes (75%) for 359 total passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, and it’s a fair question of whether Indy is better off as far as winning games right now with Richardson returning, given where Flacco and Richardson are currently in their respective careers.
That being said, any talk of an alleged ‘quarterback controversy in Indianapolis’ should be quickly shot down and dismissed.
Richardson simply needs the pro playing experience and the first-team reps to get better.
While uber-talented, this is a young and inexperienced quarterback who was limited to 4 starts last season as an NFL rookie because of a season-ending shoulder injury and has had just 4 starts so far during 2024. Not to mention, he had just 13 starts at the University of Florida prior to being drafted by Indianapolis with the 4th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Flacco may give this year’s Colts a little higher of a ceiling and probably more consistent starting quarterback play on a weekly basis, but that ceiling is still well short of being a legitimate AFC contender right now—as the surrounding supporting cast just isn’t strong enough regardless.
Bigger picture, if Richardson pans out, it gives the Colts the best and most realistic chance to truly ascend with the AFC’s pecking order long-term into a perennial NFL contender again, and the only way to do that is through more reps and experience—and showing continued patience with some of his initial (*and hopefully relatively short-lived) growing pains going forward.
