When the Indianapolis Colts signed Daniel Jones on a deal that wasn’t too cheap, it was a message to everyone, and especially their third-year incumbent quarterback.
Anthony Richardson had to improve, and get there fast to win a starting job. The Colts said early in the offseason they would find a quarterback to provide a true competition. Paying Jones $14 million backed up their words.
Presumably the Colts still want Richardson, the fourth pick of the draft just two years ago, to win the job. Thursday’s news of Richardson’s shoulder injury doesn’t make it any easier.
Richardson won’t participate in next week’s minicamp with a shoulder injury, Colts coach Shane Steichen said. Steichen told reporters that he hopes the QB can return “at some point” during training camp. That’s an alarming statement.
Two things have held Richardson back in his short career: injuries and poor production. A new injury won’t help him prove to the Colts that he’s better on the field before they have to make a decision on their QB1 this season.
Anthony Richardson can’t afford more missed time
Richardson has no timetable for a return, Steichen said, and perhaps that’s just being conservative. But any time Richardson misses isn’t good for him.
Richardson could overcome missing the rest of the offseason program, including minicamp. There’s roughly seven weeks until the Colts start training camp, and that might be enough time for Richardson to heal and be ready to go when practices start.
Missing any time in training camp or preseason games would set him back though. Jones might not have a high ceiling as a quarterback, but he can run an offense at a functional level. Richardson hasn’t proven yet that he can do that. Steichen knows his job might be on the line if the Colts don’t have a winning season. If Jones is reasonable in training camp and Richardson doesn’t have enough time to show any improvement, it’s a good bet Steichen would go with the safe option.
And even if Richardson is ready for training camp, his injury history has been a factor in his development too.
Richardson will be in a QB battle
Richardson missed most of his rookie season with concussions and a right shoulder injury that required surgery. That wasn’t good for a raw player who had just 13 career starts in college. He was inactive for four games last season due to oblique, foot and back injuries.
So while the latest injury to that same right shoulder could be fine by training camp, it’s a reminder that Richardson hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He hasn’t played well either. He had eight touchdowns, 12 interceptions and completed just 47.7% of his passes last season. That is a reason he was briefly benched early last season. It’s a reason the Colts brought in Jones to compete with him.
Richardson couldn’t afford to have much go wrong this offseason if he wanted to keep his starting job over Jones. Even if the Colts want Richardson to make strides and win the job, he can’t do that if he’s missing time.
