Former Florida Football QB Anthony Richardson has had quite the roller coaster of a season in Indianapolis. The Colts are 4-4 and are a half-game out of the final wild-card spot in the AFC.
But the Colts also had a chance to even things up in the AFC South yesterday with a key matchup against the Houston Texans and fell short 23-20. There was a moment in the third quarter where Richardson came off the field for one play, and when asked why, his answer was one that isn't going to go over well in NFL circles.
Florida Football: Load Management
In the third quarter, down 20-10, the Colts had 2nd and Goal from the 23 following a couple of penalties. Richardson was sacked on the play for no gain and facing 3rd and Goal from the 23, took himself out of the game.
Joe Flaco came in, handed the ball off to Jonathan Taylor, and the Colts kicked a field goal.
Richardson came back in to finish the game, and when asked why, he claimed he was tired.
"Tired, I ain't going to lie. That was a lot of running right there, and I didn't think I was going to go that next play. I needed a break right there."
Colts head coach Shane Steichen backed up the story and tried to deflect it as an issue, but it does add to the roller coaster of an NFL career Richardson has been having.
Richardson was drafted 4th overall by the Colts last year, but only had 84 passing attempts before his season ended due to a shoulder injury. This year, Richardson had a hip issue that kept him out of action for multiple games.
When on the field, Richardson has been the ultimate boom or bust player. He went viral earlier this year for a flick of the wrist bomb that highlighted his ceiling as a QB. He was also 10 of 32 passing yesterday for 175 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
For what it's worth, Pro Football Focus has Richardson as the second lowest-rated QB in the NFL with at least 100 dropbacks in 2024.
This ties in with what we had said when the Colts drafted him last season:
"Richardson is that he can do things no other QB can do. He can give a pump fake 360 no scope and get into the endzone. He can chuck the ball for 70 yards. He can take off and run 70 yards.
The problem is he also can't throw a 10-yard out route or a wide receiver screen with any accuracy."
Indianapolis will take the field against Minnesota on November 3rd.