Year two of the Anthony Richardson experiment has not gone as planned for the Colts. The previous top five choice has been in and out of the lineup due to injuries this season, and his performance when healthy has been disappointing.
Richardson may have hit rock bottom with Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans. The Colts quarterback went 2-for-15 passing in the first half, a terrible stat line that was only saved by his long touchdown pass to Josh Downs. Richardson ended the game 10-for-32 throwing for 175 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He did have a good day on the ground, totaling 45 yards on six carries.
Many supporters have questioned why the Colts would not return to Joe Flacco, who has operated a very efficient offense in Indianapolis when called upon. According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, head coach Shane Steichen refused to commit to a Week 9 starter for the Colts against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday.
“We’re evaluating everything,” Steichen told Holder.
The Colts lost a chance to grab the lead in the AFC South on Sunday, but they remain in the thick of the AFC Wild Card chase. We’ll see how important that is in the quarterback decision in the coming weeks.
Anthony Richardson’s performance for the Colts in Year 2 is concerning
When the Colts drafted Anthony Richardson out of college, the scouting report indicated that he was raw and required a lot of practice. Richardson didn’t play much in college at Florida and has only made 10 NFL starts, so all of those statements remain true. However, his deterioration in his second season is extremely alarming.
Richardson was outrageously inaccurate as a rookie prior to his injury, but he appeared to have a decent feel for the position. His footwork was good, he judged defenders well, and he moved through his progressions quickly. The ball was frequently delivered to the correct location, but the throw was not always accurate.
Richardson appears to be absolutely lost this season, in a year when he should be improving. His accuracy troubles persist (and may have worsened), as he occasionally misses some of the easiest throws on the field, resulting in shockingly low completion percentages. However, Richardson isn’t seeing the defense or processing properly right now. His feet are unpredictable, his eyes are all over the place, and as a result, the Colts’ passing game has become practically unworkable.
To make matters worse, the Colts have demonstrated an explosive passing game with their excellent wide receivers and Shane Steichen calling the plays. Joe Flacco has had a lot of success at quarterback in Richardson’s absence, which may have added to the pressure on the rookie quarterback to perform well when he returns.
It’s still far too early to give up on Richardson, but his decline this season has been something to keep an eye on.
