Richardson immediately enters the NFL as one of the most intriguing high-upside, if-you're-not-first-you're-last kind of draft picks. The same people who targeted Trey Lance in the back-end QB1 range with hopes of a breakout will be targeting Richardson in a similar range. Richardson joins a Colts offense that swapped out Parris Campbell for some combination of rookie Josh Downs and Isaiah McKenzie, and with both Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce returning as big-bodied vertical threats -- the profile that fits Richardson's skill set best -- we could see him live up to his hype in Year 1 if the offensive line has a bounceback season. If you draft him as your QB1, pairing him with a higher floor QB like Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins or Dak Prescott makes a lot of sense. In rookie-only drafts, Richardson should be a top-five pick in one-QB formats and the No. 2 overall pick in two-QB or Superflex formats.
Colts' Anthony Richardson: Three total TDs in loss
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Richardson completed 11 of 25 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 10 times for 56 yards and another score during Sunday's 29-23 overtime loss to the Rams. He also committed two fumbles, losing one, and converted a pair of two-point conversion passes.
It was a tale of two halves for the rookie, who was coming off of a concussion that forced him to miss the Colts' previous game against the Ravens. Richardson didn't find the end zone until the second half, finding Mo Alie-Cox with a 35-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter before leading a pair of lengthy touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to force the game into overtime. Richardson's rushing ability through three games (23-131-4) helps give him a healthy weekly floor while he develops as a passer, and he may need it in Week 5 against a Titans defense that just completely neutralized Joe Burrow.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Sleeper QBs
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Richardson is expected to return in Week 4 against the Rams after sitting out Week 3 at Baltimore with a concussion. He should pick up where he left off when he scored 22.9 Fantasy points in Week 1 against Jacksonville, and he was on his way to a huge game against Houston in Week 2 before suffering the concussion in the first half since he had 17.7 Fantasy points at the time. The Rams have done a good job in containing opposing quarterbacks, but so far they've faced Geno Smith, Brock Purdy and a gimpy Joe Burrow. As long as Richardson is healthy, he should have the chance for a top-10 finish in this matchup at home.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Good to go Sunday
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Coach Shane Steichen relayed Friday that Richardson has cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and will start Sunday's game against the Rams, JJ Stankevitz of the Colts' official site reports.
Richardson has been practicing fully this week, and now that the QB has gained medical clearance, he'll return to action after missing his team's Week 3 win over the Ravens. As a result, Gardner Minshew will return to backup duties, while the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft will look to lead to the 2-1 Colts to a third straight victory this weekend.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Practices fully again
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Richardson (concussion) was a full practice participant Thursday.
Richardson has turned in two full practices in a row, which has him trending toward returning to action Sunday against the Rams, barring any setbacks. The Colts will release their final Week 4 injury report Friday, when it will be known whether Richardson will enter Sunday's contest without a designation. Though Richardson hasn't missed out on any reps in practice this week, the Colts haven't yet confirmed that he's cleared the five-step concussion protocol.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Richardson is expected to return in Week 4 against the Rams after sitting out Week 3 at Baltimore with a concussion. He should pick up where he left off when he scored 22.9 Fantasy points in Week 1 against Jacksonville, and he was on his way to a huge game against Houston in Week 2 before suffering the concussion in the first half since he had 17.7 Fantasy points at the time. The Rams have done a good job in containing opposing quarterbacks, but so far they've faced Geno Smith, Brock Purdy and a gimpy Joe Burrow. As long as Richardson is healthy, he should have the chance for a top-10 finish in this matchup at home.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Logs full practice
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Richardson (concussion) was listed as a full practice participant Wednesday.
After being diagnosed with a concussion upon exiting the Colts' Week 2 win over the Texans, Richardson didn't practice last week before sitting out this past Sunday's overtime win over the Ravens. According to JJ Stankevitz of the Colts' official site, head coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday that Richardson hasn't yet cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, but the signal-caller's return to a full session Wednesday has him trending toward being available Sunday against the Rams.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Set to practice Wednesday
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Head coach Shane Steichen said that while Richardson is still in the concussion protocol, the quarterback is slated to practice Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Per Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star, Richardson is line to take first-team reps Wednesday, which is a positive indicator with regard to his chances of playing Sunday against the Rams, barring any setbacks. The Colts will release their first official Week 4 practice report later Wednesday, when the extent of Richardson's participation will be known.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Targeting Week 4 return
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Richardson (concussion) won't play Sunday at Baltimore, but the quarterback is optimistic about his chances of playing Week 4 against the Rams, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
At this stage, Richardson -- who didn't practice this week -- remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, but if the quarterback is able to make tangible progress in the coming days, he'll target a return to action versus Los Angeles. In Richardson's absence this weekend, Gardner Minshew will draw the start against the Ravens.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Slated to miss practice
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Richardson (concussion) isn't in line to practice Thursday, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
Per Stephen Holder of ESPN.com, Richardson was present for the session but is slated to be a spectator. Richardson thus has one more opportunity to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Ravens, but if he isn't cleared to play, Gardner Minshew would be slated to draw the start at QB for the Colts in Week 3.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Won't practice Wednesday
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Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Richardson remains in the NFL's concussion protocol and won't practice Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Center Ryan Kelly (concussion) will also sit out Wednesday's session, with Steichen adding that both players are "progressing well" as they navigate the five-step protocol. Richardson will have two more chances to practice in advance of Sunday's game against the Ravens, but in the meantime, Gardner Minshew is in line to handle first-team quarterback reps.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Won't return Sunday
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Richardson (concussion) won't return to Sunday's game against the Texans.
Richardson thus finishes up Week 2 having completed six of his 10 pass attempts for 56 yards, with three carries for 35 yards including a pair of rushing TDs. Richardson -- who was replaced by Gardner Minshew -- will now look to gain clearance to play again in advance of next Sunday's game against the Ravens.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Not on injury report
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Richardson (knee) isn't listed on Wednesday's injury report.
In the Colts' 31-21 loss to Jacksonville in Week 1, Richardson came out of the game for the final three offensive plays due to a bruised left knee, but both the quarterback and head coach Shane Steichen downplayed the injury after the game. The rookie's omission from the Week 2 injury report confirms that Richardson is healthy heading into Sunday's game in Houston, where the rookie signal-caller will look to pick up the first win of his NFL career after throwing one touchdown and rushing for another in his debut.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Downplays knee bruise
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Richardson relayed following Sunday's 31-21 loss to the Jaguars that he bruised his left knee late in the contest but will be fine, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Gardner Minshew closed out the game at QB for the Colts, and while Richardson's Week 2 status doesn't appear to be in any danger, it remains to be seen if his practice participation is impacted at all. Prior to giving way to Minshew (who logged two passing attempts), Richardson completed 24 of his 37 passes for 223 yards, a TD and a pick, to go along with 10 carries for 40 yards and a rushing score. The Colts face 0-1 Houston on the road next Sunday.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: QB Bust Alerts
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If you followed anything I've written or said this offseason then you know I'm excited about Richardson's outlook this year. But I want to see what he looks like in Week 1 against Jacksonville before starting him in one-quarterback leagues. He should still be started in Superflex and two-quarterback formats, and I hope that I'm wrong to put him in this category. Jacksonville's defense could force Richardson into multiple turnovers, and he might need to have a huge rushing performance to save his stat line in Week 1.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: QBs to Sit
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If you followed anything I've written or said this offseason then you know I'm excited about Richardson's outlook this year. But I want to see what he looks like in Week 1 against Jacksonville before starting him in one-quarterback leagues. He should still be started in Superflex and two-quarterback formats, and I hope that I'm wrong to put him in this category. Jacksonville's defense could force Richardson into multiple turnovers, and he might need to have a huge rushing performance to save his stat line in Week 1.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Completes six of 17 passes
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Richardson completed six of 17 passes for 78 yards and took five carries for 38 yards in Thursday's 27-13 preseason win over Philadelphia.
Facing the Eagles' second- and third-string defenses, Richardson led Indy's first-team offense for the entire first half and came away with 17 points on six drives. The three series that didn't feature scores were all 3-and-outs, and the touchdowns went to RBs Deon Jackson and Evan Hull on goal-line carries. Richardson finishes the preseason 13-of-29 passing for 145 yards and one interception, adding seven carries for 45 yards in two appearances. He'll get his first regular-season start when the Colts host the Jaguars on Sept. 10.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Will start Thursday night
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Coach Shane Steichen said Richardson will start the Colts' preseason finale Thursday night against the Eagles, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Richardson didn't play in the second preseason game after being named the team's regular-season starter, but he'll get in some more reps ahead of Week 1. On 29 offensive snaps in the preseason opener, Richardson completed seven of 12 passes for 67 yards (5.6 yards per attempt) with no touchdowns and one interception. Once his night against Philadelphia is complete, the 2023 first-rounder will turn his focus to preparing for his regular-season debut, Aug. 10 against the Jaguars. While there's clarity with regard the Indy's QB pecking order, it remains to be seen who will be handling the team's rushing duties early on this season, with Jonathan Taylor having been granted permission by the franchise to seek a trade.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Gives way to Minshew on Saturday
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Richardson's teammate Gardner Minshew drew the start at QB for the Colts in Saturday's preseason game against the Bears, Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star reports.
Per Atkins, Minshew and the team's second-team offense opened up the contest, with Sam Ehlinger presumably up next for the team's QB reps versus Chicago. Earlier this week, Richardson was named the Colts' Week 1 starter, so it's possible that the 2023 first-rounder won't see game action again until then.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Starts first preseason game
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Richardson made his first career start in Saturday's preseason opener against the Bills. The rookie completed seven of his 12 pass attempts for 67 yards and rushed twice for seven yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
Richardson's first taste of NFL action produced mixed results. Immediately after completing his first two pass attempts, the No. 4 overall pick airmailed his target running a short route and was intercepted with ease. It's not fair to criticize a 21-year-old in his first start in a tough road environment against a Bills defense boosted by the healthy return of safety Damar Hamlin. Richardson was able to settle in after the pick and even showed some touch on a high-arcing pass that was nearly caught for a touchdown. While he got the start in Saturday's contest over veteran Gardner Minshew (6-for-6 for 72 yards), the Colts have yet to announce a starter for the regular season. Richardson will get a chance to showcase his skills in his first home exhibition against the Bears next Saturday.
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Colts' Anthony Richardson: Starting vs. Bills on Saturday
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Richardson will start Saturday's preseason contest in Buffalo, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Richardson has been dominating first-team reps as of late, after having alternated with Gardner Minshew earlier in training camp. The Colts haven't yet named a starter for Week 1, but the rookie first-round pick will get a chance to showcase his talents under center Saturday. If Richardson can flash some of the playmaking abilities his high-end athleticism makes possible in preseason action, it could be hard to keep him off the field for long.
