2023 first-round draft choose Anthony Richardson started the final two common seasons because the Indianapolis Colts’ beginning quarterback.
Richardson has some work forward of him to stay atop the depth chart by way of the tip of August.
As shared by RotoWire/CBS Sports, citing ESPN’s Stephen Holder, Colts basic supervisor Chris Ballard stated on Friday that Richardson will face legit competitors for the beginning job in the course of the summer season.
“We knew once we took him it was going to be a curler coaster,” Ballard stated about Richardson. “The primary factor we’ve got to determine and need to work by way of is he is received to remain wholesome. That, to me, is the largest query. We now have to have competitors on the place as a result of competitors makes you higher and as a result of he isn’t confirmed he can keep wholesome for 17 video games.”
The experiment of naming Richardson the Week 1 QB1 as a rookie after he made just 13 faculty begins with the Florida Gators has to this point gone poorly for the Colts. A number of harm setbacks restricted him to simply 4 video games throughout his debut professional season earlier than he missed time this previous fall with reported indirect and stomach strains. Moreover, severe back spasms sidelined the 22-year-old for the ultimate two contests of the 2024 marketing campaign.
Even when Richardson proves he can keep wholesome, he hasn’t but proven he can enhance as a passer on the highest degree and deal with all that it means to be the CEO of an NFL offense. He was benched for 2 video games this fall after he took himself out of a contest as a result of he was “drained,” and Indianapolis defensive deal with DeForest Buckner later revealed that he and different veteran gamers met with the signal-caller in the course of the demotion to let him know “that the usual wasn’t being met” and “that he wants to select it up.”
Zak Keefer and James Boyd of The Athletic famous in a bit printed on Jan. 2 that Colts gamers tried “to carry (Richardson) accountable” when he was benched.
In line with Pro Football Reference, Richardson ended Week 18 ranked final amongst certified gamers with a 47.7% completion share, final with a 61.6 passer ranking and thirty first with a 47.5 adjusted QBR. Over 11 video games, he tossed eight landing passes and 12 interceptions.
How Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen handle the quarterback scenario earlier than and in the course of the upcoming draft will doubtless decide in the event that they maintain onto their jobs by way of subsequent winter. It is now clear that some inside the Colts not view Richardson because the long-term reply on the place they thought he may turn out to be lower than two full years in the past.
