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Anthony Richardson injury update: ESPN insider reveals latest on Colts QB's shoulder issue

ProfilePhotoby: Nick Geddes06/06/25NickGeddesNews
Anthony Richardson
Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is already experiencing an issue in his throwing shoulder three months out from the start of the 2025 NFL regular season. Colts head coach Shane Steichen revealed Thursday that as a result, Richardson will not participate in mandatory minicamp next week.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN has provided further insight on what’s ailing Richardson. Fowler said Friday that Richardson has some inflammation and is experiencing soreness in his right shoulder stemming from the AC joint sprain he suffered in 2023. That injury required season-ending surgery.

“It’s the AC joint that he suffered an injury on in 2023. I’m told there’s some inflammation from that,” Fowler said on SportsCenter. “Richardson went really hard this offseason and in OTAs. He was throwing a lot, sometimes hundreds of footballs a day. So, he felt some soreness, some inflammation that he reported to Dr. Neil ElAttrache, who did the surgery two years ago.

“They looked at the scans and I’m told structurally, this is OK. It’s just an inflammation and rest soreness type issue. He fully expects to be ready to go for training camp, but it is an issue, make no mistake, especially with Daniel Jones — they’re paying him some decent coin to potentially be the starter.”

Anthony Richardson suffers another setback ahead of 2025 season

Richardson, selected No. 4 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft out of Florida, has played in just 15-of-34 possible games over the last two seasons. He missed 13 games in his rookie campaign with the AC joint sprain. Richardson missed Weeks 5 and 6 this past season with an oblique injury, only to return in Week 7.

Steichen benched him in favor of Joe Flacco due to poor performance after Week 8 but went back to Richardson in Week 11. Richardson then missed the final two games with a disk issue in his lower back. When he’s been on the field, Richardson has been up-and-down. Over the last two seasons, he has thrown for 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions on 50.6% passing. Richardson has also rushed for 635 yards and 10 scores.

General manager Chris Ballard said at his end-of-year presser that Richardson would have competition since “he’s not proven he can play 17 games.” The team signed Daniel Jones to a one-year, $14 million deal in free agency. Steichen said there is no current timetable for Richardson’s return.

“Not going to put a timetable for training camp on it,” Steichen said. “But when he does come back, we’ll ease him into throwing and then we’ll go from there.”