Colts Make Final Decision on Injured QB Anthony Richardson

The Indianapolis Colts will definitely see rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson again this season. But he won't be on the field again over the next month.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that the Colts have placed Richardson on injured reserve. That means he will miss at least the next four games.

The #Colts have officially placed QB Anthony Richardson on Injured Reserve. He's out the next four games.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 11, 2023

Colts owner Jim Irsay confirmed that report, tweeting that Richardson was placed on injured reserve.

Placed Anthony Richardson on IR and signed guard Ike Boettger to the 53-man roster from the practice squad.. Signed wide receiver Anthony Miller and quarterback Kellen Mond to the practice squad and released Juwann Winfree from the practice squad.. pic.twitter.com/124CC7TvI1
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) October 11, 2023

Rapoport reported on Monday that Richardson is dealing with a Grade 3 AC joint sprain. He suffered the injury when he landed on his shoulder while Tennessee Titans cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting and linebacker Harold Landry III tackled him on a designed running play in Week 5.

Richardson left the game and didn't return.

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Without Richardson, the Colts will presumably start backup signal caller Gardner Minshew over the next four weeks. Indianapolis will face one of Minshew's former teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars, on the road this Sunday.

In the next three games, the Colts will square off against the Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.

Richardson will be eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 10 against the New England Patriots. However, that game is in Germany, and the Colts have their bye in Week 11.

It's possible that the Colts will keep Richardson sidelined for their European trip in an effort to get him extra rest. That decision, though, will likely depend on how well Minshew plays and where the Colts sit in the standings heading into Week 10.

In the first five games this season, Minshew has played well in relief of Richardson. Minshew has completed 68.7% of his passes for 553 yards, 2 touchdowns and zero interceptions. He's averaged 6.7 yards per pass.

He has taken a snap in four of Indianapolis' five contests.

Minshew completed 61.4% of his passes for 227 yards and a touchdown in his lone start this year, which was an overtime victory against the Baltimore Ravens.

In his five-year career, Minshew is 9-16 as a starter.

While the good news is Minshew has played well, Richardson has left games with injuries far too often during his rookie campaign. In addition to this past Sunday, Richardson also exited during Week 1 because of a knee injury and Week 2 due to a concussion.

Richardson has only finished one of the four games he has started this season.

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