Anthony Richardson’s return to playing didn’t go as expected.
He missed some throws, had trouble finding his rhythm, and only led one touchdown drive. Whether this was due to being rusty, still feeling the effects of a right hip injury, facing Miami’s aggressive defense, bad luck, or part of his learning process, the Colts understand one thing.
Richardson needs to get game experience, and the team has to accept the results—whether they are good, bad, or messy. His performance in Sunday’s 16-10 win against the Dolphins might not have been as inconsistent as it first seemed.
“They were coming off a bye week, so we saw one unexpected look that they used against us,” coach Shane Steichen said after reviewing the game tape on Monday. “But I think Anthony did a great job of avoiding sacks. That often goes unnoticed. He spun out of trouble and made some throws away.”
Everything counts, even though some of Richardson’s critics focus on his unimpressive stats.
The former Florida standout has a record of 5-4 in nine career starts and has completed only five of those games. Despite his strong arm, his career completion percentage is only 53.1%, and he has thrown for 1,360 yards, six touchdowns, and seven interceptions while losing six fumbles.
Yes, Richardson faced some challenges on Sunday—most young quarterbacks do, especially when playing against strong defenses. So, it’s understandable that some fans might prefer to see 39-year-old Joe Flacco playing for the playoff-contending Colts (4-3).
However, unless there’s another injury, the Colts can’t afford to bench Richardson, even if he’s not performing at his best. After completing just 10 of 24 passes for 129 yards and losing a fumble against the Dolphins, he has now completed 10 or fewer passes in three of their wins this season.
Can the Colts still reach the playoffs if Richardson keeps playing like this? Maybe.
He rushed 14 times for 56 yards against Miami, and if All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor comes back soon from his sprained ankle, which has kept him out for three weeks, the Colts’ running game could become a real challenge for defenses.
It’s up to Steichen and the Colts to figure out how to help their franchise quarterback improve as he adjusts to the role.
“I didn’t do a good enough job offensively,” Steichen said about the play-calling on Sunday. “I’ve got to put him in better positions. We’ll review the tape, but from what I saw, there weren’t many open options. So that’s on me. I need to do better.”
