Anthony Richardson out of concussion protocol, to start for Colts on Sunday
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has been cleared from concussion protocol and will start Sunday’s game against the Rams, according to head coach Shane Steichen.
Richardson missed last week’s game against the Ravens as he was still in concussion protocol after leaving the Week 2 matchup against the Texans early.
Veteran QB Gardner Minshew started in Richardson’s place and led the Colts to a win over Baltimore last weekend. However, Richardson is now reclaiming his starting job after being cleared.
Anthony Richardson started the first two games of the season for Indianapolis, before suffering a concussion in Week 2 against the Texans. The former Florida star has played well in limited playing time this season.
So far during his rookie year, Richardson has passed for 279 yards and one touchdown. He’s also rushed for 75 yards and three scores.
The Colts are one-point underdogs for Sunday’s matchup against Los Angeles.
The Colts selected Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, despite many questioning how he would perform in the National Football League. Richardson was regarded as one of the most athletic quarterback prospects of all time, standing at 6-foot-4, 244 pounds. However, he struggled to make plays consistently in the passing game during his time at Florida.
Richardson has silenced his critics so far in the NFL, showing off the athleticism and arm strength that made him an intriguing quarterback prospect.
He was on pace for a monster game versus the Houston Texans in Week 2, going 6-for-10 through the air for 56 yards and rushing for 35 yards and two touchdowns, before suffering a concussion.
Richardson ripped off a 15-yard touchdown run that ended with him hitting the back of his head hard on the turf in the first quarter. He remained in the game for two more possessions, before reporting his injury to staff, visiting the medical tent, and then the locker room.
There’s no question that Richardson’s rushing ability and physicality is a big part of his game. But that’s something he will have to balance going forward in order to avoid being a regular on the Colts’ injury report.
Being physical is “part of my game and part of my style,” Richardson told reporters. “I like to hit people first and try to put them in a pickle so they have to make a decision .… I’m going to try to play a little bit smarter and understand that I can’t take big hits if I’m trying to play the whole game.”