INDIANAPOLIS — Colts second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson has realized the highway again from a season-ending damage isn’t all the time linear.
“Some days I really feel wonderful after which some days I get up like, ‘Dang, my shoulder’s a bit of achy,'” mentioned Richardson, who underwent proper shoulder surgical procedure final season. “However daily, I work. At any time when I end rehab or I am in a weight room lifting, it is like, ‘OK, I am again.’
“As a result of I keep in mind a number of months in the past, I could not even raise my arm up.”
Now, Richardson is doing that after which some.
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The 2023 No. 4 total draft decide returned this week to full-squad exercises for the primary time since his damage, collaborating within the Colts’ first week of OTAs. It represents a serious step within the development of the younger quarterback, who performed simply 4 video games as a rookie final season.
Retaking his place because the franchise quarterback was significant for Richardson after the numerous chunk of missed time.
“It is what I like to do,” he mentioned of enjoying soccer. “Being out right here with the fellows, spending [the day] with them … Is wonderful.”
He added, “I am blessed to be right here.”
Richardson sustained an AC joint sprain in a Week 5 sport towards the Tennessee Titans final season, slicing brief what appeared like a promising rookie season. He spent the following three months watching, whilst Houston Texans rookie C.J. Stroud — enjoying for one of many Colts’ AFC South rivals — put the ending touches on a prolific rookie season that earned him offensive rookie of the yr.
These experiences solely served to create a larger want inside Richardson to make it again. Indianapolis performs Houston in Week 1 following a season-ending win by the Texans that clinched a playoff spot and knocked the Colts out of the postseason.
“I am all the time excited to play soccer, however my man [Stroud], he acquired the W on the finish of the season final yr, so I am excited for our offense to get going towards him this yr,” Richardson mentioned. “I am simply able to see what is going on to occur.”
Within the meantime, it is about working towards that day. Richardson, coaches say, was a diligent pupil all through his time on injured reserve. And he is sustaining that strategy this spring, hunkering down with coach Shane Steichen and his assistants to extend his command of an offense he was solely in a position to run for a brief interval in 2023.
“I am extra comfy with the offense now,” Richardson mentioned. “I’ve a yr beneath my belt. Not a yr [of] enjoying time, however simply being within the conferences daily. Then, simply learning on a regular basis. Coming right here early within the morning assembly with Shane, that is one thing I take satisfaction in as a result of if I do know the offense inside and outside like Shane does, then I believe we’ll be unstoppable. So, I’ve simply acquired to maintain perfecting it and simply maintain trusting myself and trusting the offense.”
As for the way Richardson has carried out, he had some moments of brilliance together with some less-than-perfect moments. A cross into visitors to prime receiver Michael Pittman Jr. throughout Wednesday’s apply, which was open to reporters, was one Richardson may need needed again.
Pittman collided with a teammate whereas making an attempt to make the reception, then fell to floor in ache. He remained there momentarily earlier than limping off the sector. Steichen later mentioned Pittman “bumped knees” with one other participant and “needs to be tremendous.”
General although, the impressions of Richardson had been promising, Steichen mentioned.
“I believe with any participant, you will have a bit of rust each now and again,” he mentioned. “However he is been fairly clean on the market up to now, finishing numerous balls. Completion share has been good, understanding the place to go together with the soccer, which is an effective signal. I like the place he’s at proper now. Huge time.”
