Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson’s promising rookie season appears to have come to an early end.
Richardson, who left Indianapolis’ Week 5 win with a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Colts’ Week 6 loss, will ‘probably’ miss the rest of the season and undergo shoulder surgery in the next week, Colts owner Jim Irsay told ESPN on Monday.
“There’s a debate going, but it’s probably going to lead toward surgery in the next week or so,” Irsay said. “We’re just trying to figure out exactly how and when and what we want to do and what Anthony wants to do.”
Richardson took the league by storm, recording three passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns in the four games he appeared in, as the fourth overall pick started to show flashes of what he could do with the ball.
The Colts will likely go with Gardner Minshew for the rest of the season. He started Sunday’s loss in Jacksonville and went 33-for-55 and threw for 329 yards in addition to a touchdown and three interceptions. The Colts return to action this Sunday when they host the Cleveland Browns.
The Colts and Richardson both appear to be taking things very cautiously considering both sides expect Richardson to be the franchise quarterback for years to come.
Social media saw plenty sending their well wishes to Richardson.
That sucks, but it's the right thing to do. Andrew Luck refused to get surgery initially, and it eventually cost him his career. https://t.co/eH2KLfOg50
— Brandon Bender (@brandonmbender) October 17, 2023
Felt like this was the direction things were heading.
Whatever is decided to be the best path for his recovery should be the next steps no matter how drastic it is. His long term health is priority number 1! https://t.co/s1afCpGvOO
— Destin Adams (@TheDestinAdams) October 17, 2023
This blows in a big way. Richardson has had sensational moments and needs, more than anything, REPS to develop. So frustrating. https://t.co/txtHVcm1Ps
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) October 17, 2023
Horrible considering Richardson showed so much promise so far. All he needs is reps and now won’t get those til next year https://t.co/D6RMUzzYPI
— lindsey ok (@lindseyyok) October 17, 2023
extremely crushing. he looked so special, gutted for him https://t.co/uiSXhZxsHi
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) October 17, 2023
[ESPN]
