Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson missed Week 17, and now the reason for that missed game has been revealed. According to the quarterback, he was left unable to walk after suffering a severe back issue.
According to a report from NFL insider Ari Meirov, Richardson suffered from a disc problem that led him to have to crawl around his house. An MRI revealed the disc issue.
Now, Richardson has stated he feels better and is "standing up now." Despite his healing, this could be a very serious issue that will lead to him missing out on the final game of the season.
The Colts invested a lot of time into Richardson, and they are likely going to play things smart by now allowing the young quarterback to risk reaggravating this back issue in the final game of the season.
Richardson has dealt with multiple injuries this season, as he suffered a ribs and oblique injury that kept him out of a few games this season. He also took himself out of a game and stated he was "tired," which led to him being benched in favor of Joe Flacco.
Flacco was not his normal dynamic self, and the Colts began to fall further out of playoff contention. A tragic loss to the New York Giants on Sunday led to the team not making the playoffs for a second consecutive year.
The near miss also provided plenty of frustration among the players on the team, specifically star defensive end DeForst Buckner, who called out the organization following the loss to the Giants. Buckner stated that the team will need to make some "uncomfortable" changes to see the team directed the right way.
One such uncomfortable conversation might be related to Richardson. Though the dynamic dual-threat quarterback has shown flashes of brilliance in his young career, his injuries are now becoming a concern.
