Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson opened up this week about the intense back issues he’s been battling, revealing that at one point, the pain was so severe that it left him crawling around his house.
“Last week was tough,” he admitted to reporters.
“I couldn’t even stand up on Tuesday, could barely even walk… But I’m here, I’m standing now.
If I can do everything in my power to get on the field, I’m going to do so.”
Richardson, who is dealing with some of the worst back spasms he’s ever experienced, is hoping to be able to play in the final game of the season on Sunday when the Colts face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
A Frustrating Season for the Young Quarterback
The 22-year-old quarterback, who was drafted 4th overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, has already faced numerous setbacks this season.
After a promising start, Richardson’s season was cut short when he injured his AC joint in his right shoulder during the Colts’ Week 5 win against the Tennessee Titans.
That injury ended his campaign early after just four games.
This season, Richardson has been plagued with injuries and struggles on the field.
His performance has been inconsistent, completing only 47.7% of his passes, throwing 12 interceptions, and recording just 8 touchdowns.
Still, he’s managed to start 11 games, posting a 6-5 record.
Will Richardson Be Ready for Sunday’s Game?
Despite missing practice last week and sitting out the Colts’ 38-10 loss to the New York Giants, Richardson remains determined to finish the season on a high note.
“God willing, if I’m able to go out there with my teammates this week, it’s just great to finish off the season with a victory because that’ll just instill some confidence in us going into the offseason,” he said.
For Richardson, the opportunity to end the season with a win is about more than just the scoreboard.
“Just find some ways to fine-tune certain things and just get better as players and just get better for the organization,” he added.
Team Dynamics and Player Accountability
Richardson’s struggles have led to some tension in the locker room.
Veteran Joe Flacco started in his place during the Giants game, but his performance only seemed to add to the confusion.
“They were trying to hold [Richardson] accountable, which is understandable, but then the guy they put in wasn’t the guy either,” said one Colts veteran, speaking to The Athletic.
“So when they went back to A.R., at that point it’s like, ‘OK, but what are we doing?’ That really affected the team.”
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner also expressed his frustration, directly telling Richardson that he wasn’t meeting expectations.
“I signed an extension here because I believed in you,” Buckner said.
“But you’ve got to do your part.”
Good News for Richardson – Surgery Not Required
Despite all the pain and setbacks, there’s some relief for Richardson.
He doesn’t expect to need surgery on his back.
“I’ve been dealing with stuff like this since about eighth grade, but it’s never been this severe,” he shared.
“It was definitely a little scary last week, not being able to move.
But, like I said, I’m standing up now and I’m looking forward to playing this week if I can.”
Although Richardson is feeling better, he still missed Wednesday’s walkthrough.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen hasn’t ruled him out for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars, however.
“We’re hopeful,” Steichen said.
“He’s working through his rehab and his treatment right now, so we’ll see how the week progresses with that.”
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