Anthony Richardson’s rookie season comes to a disappointing end as Colts QB is set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery

The Indianapolis Colts have confirmed that QB Anthony Richardson will no longer be playing this season as he is scheduled to undergo shoulder surgery.

Anthony Richardson’s rookie season comes to a disappointing end as Colts QB is set to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery

Anthony Richardson's rookie season has come to an inevitable end. (IMAGE: AP)

It has to be rough being a fan of the Indianapolis Colts. No matter how many great roster moves they make or draft players with immense potential, something unexpected occurs, which ends up resulting in pure disappointment for the team and their fans. 

This time, Anthony Richardson, the quarterback for the team, will no longer be suiting up for the team for the remainder of this season. Owner Jim Irsay made it public via X and stated that the rookie QB will be undergoing shoulder surgery and recovering for the rest of the season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziLwLqrISWM

A week ago, the 4th overall pick in the NFL draft suffered a Grade 3 AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, which led to him being placed on injury reserve. While he was expected to be back after 3 to 4 games, the Indianapolis Colts have decided that it is best to shut him down for the remainder of the season, keeping in mind the long-term interests of both the franchise and Richardson. 

FS Video

The team has reached out to seek professional opinions from top shoulder specialists across the nation in the past few weeks and came to this conclusion after taking into consideration what they had to say.

Related:Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase breaks silence on D.K. Metcalf claiming CB Devon Witherspoon will get the better of Chase this week

The Colts do not want to take any risks by allowing Anthony Richardson to play this season

Owner Irsay stated, “We collected several medical opinions, and we felt this was the best course of action for his long-term health. We anticipate a full recovery, and there is no doubt Anthony has a promising future.”

Anthony Richardson gave the Indianapolis Colts fans a reason to be excited for this season. (IMAGE: AP)
Anthony Richardson gave the Indianapolis Colts fans a reason to be excited for this season. (IMAGE: Getty)

Head Coach Shane Steichen believes that his QB will be back by April 2024. “I’m not going to put a timetable on it, but I think he’s got a good chance,” Steichen stated. Generally, a grade 3 AC joint sprain means that there is an issue with the ligaments holding the collarbone in with the AC joint. The ligaments run down from the collarbone to the shoulder, thus helping stabilize the shoulder.

Richardson’s injury continues the quarterback curse for the Indianapolis Colts, who have struggled since the departure of Peyton Manning. The team has run through numerous quarterbacks and coaches in the past decade. Anthony Richardson had high hopes riding on him for his rookie year as he was a versatile QB, one who could not just throw the ball but also run it, something that the Colts have not had. He was also the highest QB to be drafted after Andrew Luck in 2012. 

The Colts had the option to give Richardson time to rehab for 3 weeks and get back on the field; however, the team has learned its lesson after they found themselves in the same position with QB Andrew Luck, who had an injury in 2015 and opted to just rehab and continue playing rather than having surgery. 

He pushed surgery to the offseason and ended up sitting out two whole years before ultimately retiring in 2019 owing to physical and mental struggles that he had to face while playing through the pain. The Colts are not willing to go down that route with their newest franchise QB and this time, longevity is their priority.

Anthony Richardson will end this season having completed 59.5% of his passes, thrown for 577 yards, and had three touchdowns. When it comes to rushing, he had 136 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries. He showed fans the potential he has, and while this call may disappoint fans now, it is in the best interest of Richardson. Gardner Minshew is expected to take over for the rest of the season.

In case you missed: