One of many greatest non-draft-related tales to emerge from the NFL mix this week concerned Indianapolis Colts common supervisor Chris Ballard confirming that 2023 first-round draft decide Anthony Richardson will probably be a part of an “open” competitors for the beginning job this summer season.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen later detailed how he needs Richardson to enhance from ongoing offseason exercises by the upcoming competitors that would decide if the 22-year-old continues to be with the Colts right now subsequent 12 months.
“Constructing on the basics and clearly persevering with to work on his passing,” Steichen mentioned, as shared by Paul Bretl of Colts Wire/USA In the present day. “Getting the completion proportion up will probably be large going ahead for him. It’s repetitions. You take a look at these issues, simply repetitions going time and again goes to be large for him. The basic a part of it. I feel he has actually fast ft. I’ve mentioned that earlier than, actually fast ft, and I feel it’s simply getting the repetitions with these guys to get that completion proportion up.”
As famous by Pro Football Reference, Richardson ended 2024 ranked final within the NFL amongst certified passers with a 47.7 p.c completion proportion. He additionally had the league’s worst passer ranking (61.6) and was fortieth out of 43 gamers with a 36 p.c passing success price.
Simply as worrisome as these numbers is the truth that Richardson hasn’t proven he can keep wholesome as a full-time beginning quarterback for greater than a few months at a time. A shoulder injury value him the vast majority of his rookie season, and he missed time through the 2024 marketing campaign due to a reported indirect/stomach drawback and severe back spasms. In complete, he has began simply 15 of a potential 34 video games since being named Indianapolis’ QB1 in August 2023.
“I feel consistency is the largest factor,” Steichen added. “We’ve had these conversations, myself and him. Simply being constant. Clearly, being on the sector — 15 video games the final two years. He performed 11 final 12 months and did some actually good issues, however simply searching for the consistency.”
It is now clear that merely exhibiting “consistency” will not be sufficient for Steichen to call Richardson the Colts’ Week 1 starter this coming summer season. The truth is, Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star is amongst these questioning if the Colts might “utterly quit on Richardson” by pursuing a giant identify reminiscent of Sam Darnold of the Minnesota Vikings or Matthew Stafford of the Los Angeles Rams.
