Indianapolis Colts fans have been delighted to see their future behind center healthy, as 2023 first-round selection Anthony Richardson returned to the field this preseason.
Now with one last August contest before the start of the 2024 NFL season, will we see the fourth overall pick from ’23 throw and run against the Cincinnati Bengals?
Details Emerge on Anthony Richardson’s Status Ahead of Bengals Game
Richardson gave Indianapolis seven plays in the Aug. 11 preseason opener against the Denver Broncos — finishing 2-for-4 for 25 yards and adding a single rushing yard in the 34-30 loss. However, he was held out of the second contest on Saturday against the Arizona Cardinals, which ended in a 21-13 Indy victory.
The Colts opting to keep Richardson off the field in Week 2 can signify that Indianapolis is teetering towards resting its QB1 for the Thursday preseason contest. Head coach Shane Steichen, though, has a different idea.
The second-year head coach plans to play his starters until the start of the second quarter against Cincy. This means Richardson is projected to lead the Colts’ offense right away.
“I think it’ll be really good for him,” Steichen said to reporters on Wednesday. “Any time you can get out there in those game-like situations, it’s good. Obviously, you want to be smart with these guys in the preseason because we’ve got a long season ahead of us, but we’re excited to get those guys out there on Thursday.”
Did Richardson Struggle in a Joint Practice?
Richardson has already gotten used to seeing the Bengals during the week, as he and the Colts have participated in a joint practice with Thursday’s opponent.
Yet, reports say Richardson looked shaky against the Bengals’ defense.
Colts insider for The Athletic James Boyd was among the media representatives on hand in watching Richardson try to operate on the field. He described Richardson and the Colts showing zero comfort.
“Colts’ first-team offense is struggling. No one looks comfortable, including Anthony Richardson,” Boyd posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Boyd even kept track of Richardson’s early stats, saying: “He’s 2/8 passing, and the Bengals players are talking so much trash. Rightfully so.”
Pro Football Network Bengals reporter Jay Morrison highlighted the Bengals’ trash talk of Richardson on Tuesday.
“He’s just throwin’ to spots,” Cincinnati safety Geno Stone yelled, per Morrison. “He don’t throw to receivers.”
Richardson wound up throwing one interception in the practice, which Morrison reports was a shot to Michael Pittman II that Cam Britt-Taylor tipped and Logan Wilson caught.
The rest of Richardson’s afternoon saw him redeem himself. He managed to hit rookie Adonai Mitchell in the back of the end zone during a red zone sequence.
The Star’s Nate Atkins described the ball the QB threw as one with “perfect placement away from a defender’s fingertips.” Richardson spent the rest of his afternoon running the offense with a “sense of purpose and urgency” and ended the session going 10-of-20.
Richardson won’t have to wait until Sept. 8 at home against the Houston Texans to see some playing time. While his snaps are to be determined, he’s lined up to engineer the Colts’ offense for one more preseason game.