Joe Flacco will make his fourth begin of the season in Richardson’s absence, with Sam Ehlinger serving because the backup quarterback. Sunday shall be Flacco’s seventh look and fourth begin of the season. He has accomplished 66.5 % of his passes for 1,167 yards and 9 touchdowns, together with 5 interceptions this 12 months.
Richardson has been coping with again and foot soreness all week, which sidelined him from observe, per Rapoport. Particularly, Richardson’s mobility and motion have been restricted by again spasms, according to Joel Erickson of The Indianapolis Star. There was optimism earlier within the week that the second-year quarterback might play on Sunday, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder, however his lack of participation in Friday’s observe indicated in any other case.
Sunday’s recreation shall be Richardson’s fifth absence of the season, and it couldn’t come at a worse time for the Colts, who may very well be eradicated from playoff rivalry this week. If that occurs, Indianapolis might choose to close down its younger quarterback altogether to provide him a head begin on therapeutic up and making ready for the 2025 season.
Richardson’s sturdiness has been a priority since he entered the league because of his bodily enjoying type. He performed in simply 4 video games as a rookie in 2024 earlier than touchdown on injured reserve with a Grade 3 AC joint sprain. This 12 months, an oblique injury sidelined him in Weeks 5 and 6 earlier than bother arose along with his again and foot later within the season.
Richardson admitted on Tuesday that his 86 speeding makes an attempt (fifth-most amongst quarterbacks) have taken a toll on him bodily.
“From the beginning of the season, you’re going to really feel these hits the following day,” Richardson mentioned, through Holder. “In faculty I didn’t actually get sore. However the NFL, it’s a unique breed, totally different recreation. You will have some grown males on the market enjoying soccer, so it’s at all times a little bit totally different getting tackled by these guys.”
Richardson’s sturdiness isn’t the one concern surrounding his lack of availability. He was thought of a uncooked quarterback prospect when the Colts chosen him with the fourth general decide within the 2023 NFL Draft.
With simply 13 begins and a 54.7 % completion charge in faculty, most evaluators believed that Richardson would wish constant enjoying time to kick-start his improvement within the execs. As he approaches the top of his second NFL season, the previous Florida standout has performed in simply 15 video games with a 50.6 % completion charge and an 11:13 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
