INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is eager to dismiss any concerns regarding the lower leg injury he sustained, which was noted in last Thursday’s injury report. He is focused on the critical AFC South matchup against the Houston Texans this Sunday.
“I’m good, I’m all good,” Richardson confidently stated during a press briefing on Wednesday, right before participating in the team’s brief walkthrough. “I’ll be ready to go on Sunday. I was out there last week, so I’m in good shape.”
Although Richardson was classified as a limited participant in practice, Coach Shane Steichen emphasizes the importance of his performance this week, as the Colts (8-3) aim to extend their two-game lead in the division over the Texans (6-5).
Richardson has acknowledged that he couldn’t accurately identify when the injury occurred or when he first sensed something was off. However, he has been actively working with the team’s trainers to ensure he’s fit for the game.
Following Richardson’s struggles against the Chiefs, particularly against their pass rush during the fourth quarter and overtime, questions about his health have arisen. The Colts witnessed a 20-9 lead dissolve, with Kansas City clinching a late field goal that sent the game into overtime, eventually winning 23-20.
Despite not being sacked or committing a turnover, Richardson completed 19 of 31 passes for 181 yards and two touchdowns, marking a season-low completion rate of 61.3%. This performance ranked among his least effective outings of the season.
In his last three games, Richardson encountered significant challenges, tallying seven turnovers and being sacked 15 times. These recent difficulties have led some analysts to question his health and whether he is reverting to past patterns after a strong start that included winning seven of his first eight games with the Colts. Since then, he has only managed a 2-2 record and has found himself scrambling more frequently, a tactic he may have to employ again against Houston’s robust defense.
However, Coach Steichen remains unfazed by Richardson’s recent performances. “During a season, you will experience fluctuations, and it’s about how you respond,” Steichen commented. “Even in the last game, he was completing passes effectively. He had a 100.0 passer rating and was 14 of 16 at one point. He’s playing solid football; it’s just about securing victories when it counts.”
Despite the setbacks, Richardson is not making excuses. He understands the significance of bouncing back, especially as the Colts pursue their first division title since 2014. “When you’re on the field, you can’t let injuries cloud your mindset,” he reflected. “We struggled on third downs and didn’t set ourselves up well on early downs. It wasn’t just one issue that plagued us; our execution wasn’t at the level we needed during crucial moments.”
