One of many greatest non-draft-related tales to emerge from the NFL mix this week concerned Indianapolis Colts basic supervisor Chris Ballard confirming that 2023 first-round draft choose Anthony Richardson shall be a part of an “open” competitors for the beginning job this summer season.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen later detailed how he desires Richardson to enhance from ongoing offseason exercises via the upcoming competitors that would decide if the 22-year-old remains to be with the Colts right now subsequent yr.
“Constructing on the basics and clearly persevering with to work on his passing,” Steichen mentioned, as shared by Paul Bretl of Colts Wire/USA In the present day. “Getting the completion share up shall be massive going ahead for him. It’s repetitions. You take a look at these issues, simply repetitions going again and again goes to be massive for him. The basic a part of it. I feel he has actually fast toes. I’ve mentioned that earlier than, actually fast toes, and I feel it’s simply getting the repetitions with these guys to get that completion share up.”
As famous by Pro Football Reference, Richardson ended 2024 ranked final within the NFL amongst certified passers with a 47.7 % completion share. He additionally had the league’s worst passer score (61.6) and was fortieth out of 43 gamers with a 36 % passing success charge.
Simply as worrisome as these numbers is the truth that Richardson hasn’t proven he can keep wholesome as a full-time beginning quarterback for greater than a few months at a time. A shoulder injury value him nearly all of his rookie season, and he missed time throughout the 2024 marketing campaign due to a reported indirect/stomach drawback and severe back spasms. In whole, he has began simply 15 of a potential 34 video games since being named Indianapolis’ QB1 in August 2023.
“I feel consistency is the largest factor,” Steichen added. “We’ve had these conversations, myself and him. Simply being constant. Clearly, being on the sphere — 15 video games the final two years. He performed 11 final yr and did some actually good issues, however simply searching for the consistency.”
It is now clear that merely displaying “consistency” will not be sufficient for Steichen to call Richardson the Colts’ Week 1 starter this coming summer season. In reality, Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star is amongst these questioning if the Colts might “utterly hand over on Richardson” by pursuing an enormous identify comparable to Sam Darnold of the Minnesota Vikings or Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams.
