Colts' Shane Steichen Reveals Logic Behind Anthony Richardson Surgery
The news came out shortly before Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen took the podium for his weekly press conference.
Anthony Richardson, the rookie quarterback whose electric play captivated Colts fans everywhere, would be having season-ending surgery on his right shoulder. Richardson reportedly suffered a Grade 3 AC joint sprain in the second quarter of the Colts' Week 5 win over the Tennessee Titans. After four games, the No.4 overall pick's rookie season was over.
"I’ll start off just confirming that Anthony (Richardson) will have season-ending shoulder surgery," Steichen started his presser on Wednesday. "Going through that process and talking to all the doctors, getting as much information as we could, this is the best thing for him and this franchise moving forward so we can get him healthy for next season."
The Colts and Richardson have spent the last week and a half speaking with various doctors across the country, compiling as much information on the injury as possible. This decision was not taken lightly, and both sides wanted to ensure they made the correct decision for Richardson and the Colts' organization. After speaking with the experts, the path became clear.
“I think just getting all the opinions from the doctors, that was what the doctors said," Steichen revealed on why they decided on surgery. "The long-term longevity of that – needed surgery and that’s where we went with it. ... I’m not going to get into who he consulted with, but we had a lot of opinions from the best guys in the country to get those opinions.”
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) sits on the field with a shoulder injury during the second quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium.
© Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
The Colts have been in this position before. The franchise remembers what happened in 2015 after Andrew Luck suffered a partially torn labrum in his shoulder. Luck continued to play with the injury, opting for an intense rehab program instead of surgery.
The plan did not work. Luck underwent surgery in 2017, missing the entire season. While Luck eventually recovered, multiple years of intense pain and rehab caused him to fall out of love with the game of football. It became too much, and Luck retired in 2019 at the young age of 29.
The Colts are determined not to make the same mistakes with Richardson. This decision was never about 2023 but for Richardson to have a long and prosperous career in Indianapolis. Richardson is expected to be the face of this franchise for years to come, and the Colts are all in on their 21-year-old quarterback.
"(Richardson's future is) a huge part of (the decision)," Steichen admitted. "You take a guy fourth overall, a tremendous competitor, a great player. The longevity of him needs to be at a premium so this is the best thing for him moving forward.”
The expectation is that Richardson will recover fully from the surgery and be the same player he was before the injury. Steichen would not give an exact timeline on his recovery but indicated Richardson has a significant chance to return in the spring for the Colts' offseason program. This news is very encouraging for the Colts and Richardson.
But once Richardson does return, all parties involved have a responsibility to help keep the quarterback healthy moving forward. Richardson needs to learn how to better protect himself on the field, and Steichen needs to be strategic on when to put his quarterback in vulnerable positions. That said, Richardson will still be used in the quarterback run game moving forward. It's part of what makes him such an enticing talent.
“One of the things that makes him really good is (he is) a runner," Steichen explained. "A lot of those guys around the league that run and make plays – that’s what helps your offense. But we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
Although the rookie is on board with the decision for surgery, it does not make the situation any easier for Richardson. His rookie season is over, and it would be easy for dark thoughts to creep into the quarterback's head. Steichen is committed to not allowing that to happen, and so far, Richardson is keeping his head up.
"Any time you get hurt and you know you’re going to have surgery and you know you’re going to be out for the year, I think that’s tough on any player," Steichen remarked. "You know what, just the conversations I had with him – he’s in a great spot. It’s disappointing, we all know that. But he’s going to learn from this, he’s going to grow and he’s going to get better from it.”
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) passes during the first half of the game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Oct. 1, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
© Jenna Watson/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK
Richardson may not be back on the field in 2023, but his work is not over. The rookie quarterback will continue to stay engaged in meetings and on the practice field. There is still plenty for the Richardson to learn and participate in despite being out for the rest of the season.
“This will be a great learning experience for him moving forward," Steichen said. "He will be engaged. He will be in the meetings, he will be at practice, and he’ll learn this year. Sitting back and watching and learning.
"In the long run I think with anything – I said this a couple weeks ago – when you go through tough times it will make you stronger. This is a tough time for any player. Obviously, your rookie year, you want to be out there with your teammates. I know he is crushed about it too, but I think it will help him, make him stronger in the long run.”
Richardson missing the rest of his rookie season is obviously not ideal for the Colts. But Steichen has seen enough from Richardson since the Colts drafted him to be excited about what the quarterback can do in the years to come. The head coach sees this as merely a bump in the road in what will hopefully be a long and prosperous journey.
“I thought when he played he was explosive and he was electric," Steichen mentioned. "He gives us an opportunity every time he steps on the field to win football games. Just his big-play ability, throwing the ball down the field – the runs that he had, the four touchdown runs in the limited time he played. But there is tremendous opportunity for him going forward and this franchise.”
The Colts and Richardson are doing this for the future. Surgery is the smart decision, and while it may not be the easiest choice, it is the best option to ensure the story for the next franchise quarterback has a much happier ending than the last one.
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