Why Is Anthony Richardson Not Playing Quarterback For the Indianapolis Colts Today?
You could hear a pin drop. Or at least, you could feel the collective gasp of Indianapolis when Daniel Jones went down. We were watching what was supposed to be the ultimate redemption arc. Jones, the guy written off by New York, was playing out of his mind. Was Anthony Richardson ready to save the day?
Jones had the Colts sitting pretty with playoff aspirations. Then, in a cruel twist of fate during Week 14, a non-contact leg injury likely ended his season. Just like that, the air was sucked out of the room.
The Waiting Game With Richardson
Here is the frustrating reality. Richardson is currently sitting on injured reserve, recovering from one of the weirdest injuries in recent memory. We aren’t talking about a blindside hit or a bad landing. We are talking about an elastic stretch band snapping back and hitting him in the face during warmups back in October. You almost have to laugh at the absurdity of it if it weren’t so serious.
The orbital fracture he suffered was scary stuff. We’re talking about vision impairment and surgery. You don’t mess around with eyesight. However, the latest reports offer a glimmer of hope. Head Coach Shane Steichen mentioned that Richardson is closer to gaining clearance. He’s back in the weight room and has been spotted at the facility more regularly. He might even travel with the team for upcoming road games.
But traveling with the team and starting a do-or-die game are two very different things.
If Not Richardson, Then Who?
If the doctors don’t give Richardson the green light, the Colts are staring down the barrel of a brutal reality. The keys to the offense fall to Riley Leonard.
Leonard is a rookie. He has never thrown a pass in a regular-season NFL game. Asking him to step in for an MVP-caliber Jones and keep a playoff run alive is like asking a teenager to land a 747 because he played a flight simulator once. It is a terrifying prospect for a team that has fought so hard to get to eight wins.
The front office might scramble to sign a veteran, but at this stage in December, the pickings are slim. The ghost of free agency past isn’t likely to save them.
A Gauntlet To the Finish Line
The timing couldn’t be worse. The Colts aren’t coasting into the postseason; they have to earn it against a slate of killers. They have the Seahawks, the 49ers, the Jaguars, and the Texans left on the docket. That is a brutal stretch for a seasoned vet, let alone a rookie or a rust-shaking Richardson.
Ideally, Richardson gets cleared. He steps back in, flashes that freakish athleticism we saw flashes of, and keeps the ship afloat. But we have to be real about the human element here. He’s been sitting for weeks. His vision was blurry. Throwing him into the fire of a playoff chase is a massive gamble.
This season was shaping up to be a fairytale for Indy. Now, unless Richardson can pull off a miracle return, or Leonard plays way above his pay grade, the Colts might be watching the playoffs from the couch. Football can be a cruel, cruel game.
