The Indianapolis Colts have been one of the more under-the-radar teams of the 2024 NFL season. At 7-8, they still have an outside chance of making it into the playoffs, provided some luck falls their way. However, they aren’t discussed as such, with the major talking point around the team centered on quarterback Anthony Richardson.
In a short amount of time, Richardson has already become a topic of national conversation. And when the Colts announced that he would be out for a crucial Week 17 encounter against the New York Giants, fans didn’t take too kindly to the news. While there was the odd supporter out there, the prevailing sentiment amongst the fan base was frustration and anger.
Fans Upset With Anthony Richardson Situation
With just one season of playing starting quarterback minutes at Florida, Richardson was always going to be a developmental project for Indianapolis. However, in his first full season as Indy’s starter, the returns have been far from ideal.
Richardson’s arm talent is there, but the football IQ and efficiency are way off (only a 47.7% completion percentage). But fans may have been willing to overlook that as growing rookie pains if the will from Richardson was clear to see.
Earlier in the year, Richardson checked himself out of the game on account of being tired, which earned him a spot on the bench. Now, as Joe Flacco once again takes up the starting QB job, tempers are beginning to flare.
For some, Richardson missing games again was a clear signal “that it’s incredibly unlikely he can make it through any entire NFL season.” For them, the Colts still need to find their long-term solution at the QB position.
Anthony Richardson not playing tomorrow doesn’t change a thing except for the reality that it’s incredibly unlikely he can make it through any entire NFL season.
Colts don’t have their longterm solution.
— Faux Peyton Manning (@FeuxManning) December 28, 2024
For others, Richardson being checked out for the second time in a single season after the egregious error earlier in the year was a clear indication that the Florida product was “soft.”
“Im just going to say it because I believe there is enough evidence out there to back it up – Anthony Richardson is soft. The #Colts need to move on from him after this season. #CamWard”
Im just going to say it because I believe there is enough evidence out there to back it up – Anthony Richardson is soft. The #Colts need to move on from him after this season. #CamWard
— markb (@cubscoltsfan) December 28, 2024
For most Colts fans, the project was over, and the results were out. To them, believing in Richardson was an exercise in futility, and they were ready to give up on the experiment.
“Anyone who’s still believing in the Anthony Richardson experiment needs to let it go.”
Anyone who’s still believing in the Anthony Richardson experiment needs to let it go
— Drew (@IronCityFilm) December 22, 2024
But for all of the negativity and detractions, the young QB still has some fans left in Indianapolis.
Their first line of defense was the record. When Richardson missed four games due to his benching, the team went 1-3 with Flacco. Instead, the year-long 6-5 record was an indication of Richardson’s potential.
“The Colts are 6-5 with Anthony Richardson as their starter this year. The Colts went 1-3 with Joe Flacco….Let’s hope the benching of AR was worth it long term, because it may have cost the Colts a playoff spot in 2024.”
The Colts are 6-5 with Anthony Richardson as their starter this year.
The Colts went 1-3 with Joe Flacco….
Let’s hope the benching of AR was worth it long term, because it may have cost the Colts a playoff spot in 2024. pic.twitter.com/gBH6FkaEcf
— Talkin’ Colts (@TalkinnColts) December 27, 2024
For others, some of the backlash against Richardson fell on head coach Shane Steichen as well. Even though Richardson missed an entire week’s worth of practice, Steichen came out claiming that he was going to miss the next two on account of soreness.
The optics around the messaging were a major problem for those who still remain Richardson fans.
My two cents:
I don’t think #Colts HC Shane Steichen did QB Anthony Richardson any favors, at least optics-wise, by simply saying AR was “really sore” this week.
It’s obviously more than that for AR to miss a full week of practice, but again, the messaging falls flat. https://t.co/KzB0H9OexB
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) December 28, 2024
Some, though, were a little more cutthroat with their ideology. To them, it was a with us or against us mentality when it came to Richardson.
“If you’re a Colts fan and you’re done with Anthony Richardson and want him gone. Then you’re not a Colts fan, simple as that.”
If you're a Colts fan and if you're done with Anthony Richardson and want him gone
Then you are not a Colts fan, simple as that
— 🎄🏀Hali_to_Siakam🏀🎄(12-15) (@Hali_to_Siakam) December 27, 2024
So far, the Anthony Richardson experiment has been a hard one to follow. Whether it’s his own limitation or the play-calling from the coaching staff, he is attempting less than 25 passes per game. However, even on those few attempts, his conversion rate is far from ideal at 47.7%.
On the season, in 11 games, Richardson has thrown for just 1,814 total yards. That’s less than 170 yards per game.
It remains to be seen how the rest of Richardson’s career pans out and if the Colts can find success with him. The fan base, however, is getting testy, and it remains to be seen how patient they remain with his growth.