Colts 'Really Happy' With Anthony Richardson's Rehab Progress
If you have followed the Indianapolis Colts over the last decade and change, you know the quarterback situation has been filled with controversy.
From high expectations to injuries to shocking retirements to veteran bandaids and everything in between, it has been a wild ride for Colts fans at the most important position in football.
So when electric rookie Anthony Richardson, the No.4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was lost for the season after Week 5 due to a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder, the reaction was a resounding, "Here we go again."
Luckily for the Colts, it looks to have been a minor setback for what fans hope to be a major comeback. Richardson was very positive after the season ended, explaining that he felt really good about where the shoulder was at and that he was excited to get back to throwing the football. The excitement built for fans when Richardson's agent, Deiric Jackson, posted a video on X of the quarterback beginning to throw the football again a couple of weeks ago.
With Richardson working his way back to 100%, Wednesday was the first time we heard from Colts' general manager Chris Ballard on how Richardson is doing in his rehab and where the young quarterback is in the process.
"Really happy about where (Richardson's) at," Ballard said on Wednesday. "He started throwing, he’s on a rehab program. We’re not going to – like, I lived through the last one and I learned a lot of lessons living through the last one. Forgive me for being a little cautious."
Ballard is, of course, referring to the injury saga that ended former Colts quarterback Andrew Luck's career. After suffering numerous injuries to his shoulder, abdomen, and calf, Luck shockingly retired during the middle of the 2019 preseason at just 29 years old. Luck was arguably a top-five quarterback when he hung up his cleats, and the retirement set the Colts back years.
Now, Richardson's injury is not that serious, and there are no thoughts of the 21-year-old leaving the game. The shoulder surgery should reinforce the joint so the injury never happens again. But Ballard wants to ensure everything is done correctly during rehab despite Richardson's efforts to push as hard as possible.
"I know Anthony (Richardson) has made some statements that it’s important to be ahead of schedule – we’re here to pull the reins to make sure we don’t get too far ahead of schedule and we’re staying with whatever the doctors are telling us," Ballard said reassuringly. "But he’s in good shape, he’s throwing – he’s got a good throwing program. We’ve got good people working with him. I’m encouraged about where he’s at and where he’s going, and we’ll go from there.”
When Richardson does get back to 100%, he will pick back up where he left off as the young quarterback continues to develop into the player the Colts are confident he can be. Essentially, Richardson is still a rookie, having only played in four games in 2023. There is still a lot of learning he will need to do, and much of it will have to come through live game reps.
Head coach Shane Steichen has a plan in place for when Richardson returns. Steichen had Richardson working on various projects throughout the season and consistently met with Richardson to discuss the nuances of the quarterback position. Ballard is confident in Steichen's ability to get the most out of the talented quarterback.
“Here’s why I have a lot of faith in Shane (Steichen), and really the offensive staff – they do a really good job with playing to the strengths of what a player can do," Ballard explained. "Of course, the more snaps you get as a player no matter what position you play in the league, but especially quarterback – the more snaps you get, the more you can put on their plate, the more experience they have, the more success they’ll have.
"Will the menu be as big as early whether he had played all of last year? I can’t say yay or nay because I’ll leave that on the staff but I do have a lot of confidence in them to – whatever they think he does well, that’s what we’ll do.”
While Steichen and the offensive coaches will play an important role in Richardson's development, Ballard and the front office also hold a responsibility to surround Richardson with as much talent as possible. Richardson's rookie contract allows the Colts to have flexibility in acquiring players. For Ballard, that starts up front with the guys blocking for Richardson.
"I think you have to make sure he’s protected," Ballard remarked. "I think you know my philosophy on that. You have to make sure your quarterback, especially a young quarterback, you’ve got to make sure he’s protected. Then you want to put enough good players around him to be successful whether that comes through free agency or the draft."
© Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
Protecting Richardson should not be a problem, as the Colts' offensive line rebounded nicely in 2023 under new offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. Quenton Nelson and Ryan Kelly were back in the Pro Bowl. Bernhard Raimann and Will Fries took big jumps and solidified themselves as starters.
Ballard is likely to focus on adding weapons for Richardson on the offensive side of the ball. The Colts are excited about the duo of Richardson and Jonathan Taylor in the backfield. Ballard confirmed yesterday that Richardson's favorite target, Michael Pittman Jr., would be on the Colts in 2024 and potentially longer as the Colts and Pittman work on an extension.
But the Colts want more, and while Richardson is an explosive player, having other explosive players he can count on will make the offense more dynamic.
“I mean, he’s explosive within himself," Ballard admitted. "I think we all saw that even with the short span he was playing, he’s explosive within himself. The more good, reliable players that you can put around him, the better. No.1, protect him. Then No. 2, try and put the best players you can around him.”
Although Ballard would never admit it, the continued focus for the Colts is on Richardson and ensuring he is in the best position to succeed. By formulating an incredibly detailed rehab, creating a plan of attack on offense when he returns, and surrounding him with more talent, the Colts want to provide Richardson with everything he needs to reach his full potential.
By reaching his full potential, not only will Richardson be one of the best quarterbacks in the league, but the Colts' quarterback carousel will finally come to an end.
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