Caleb Williams and Anthony Richardson are in similar situations. Both left college early with a reputation as strong-armed quarterbacks who can make big plays.
They were drafted by teams looking for stability in a position that has seen a lot of changes. Now, both are trying to prove they can live up to the expectations and become the leaders of their teams.
However, after two games this season, both are already facing criticism for low completion percentages, missed passes, and missed chances.
On Sunday, when Williams and the Chicago Bears play against Richardson and the Indianapolis Colts, they will have another opportunity to get their seasons back on track.
“Obviously, we didn’t do enough,” Richardson said on Wednesday about Indy’s 0-2 start. “If we scored more points than the other team, we win. So that’s the main thing on our mind.
That’s our thought process — putting up points and just executing the offense.” While it sounds straightforward, it hasn’t been easy.
The main concerns about Richardson during the 2023 draft were whether he could be accurate enough to succeed in the NFL and his limited starting experience. He hasn’t had many chances to address those questions.
Last season, Richardson started four games but ended one early due to a season-ending shoulder injury.
This season, he has already started and finished two games, but his completion rate of 49.1% is the lowest among starting quarterbacks in the NFL. He also threw three interceptions and fumbled twice in last week’s loss to Green Bay.
Although the Colts (0-2) have managed to make some big plays to keep the scores close, they’ve struggled to maintain drives. Their opponents have controlled the ball for nearly 40 minutes per game.
