Colts QB Anthony Richardson gives promising health update

   

Quarterback Anthony Richardson flashed exactly why the Colts selected him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft last season.

In four games, Richardson threw for 577 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 136 yards and four touchdowns.

However, his rookie year was cut short after suffering a Grade 3 AC joint sprain in Week 5, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery to repair it.

Although the surgery was successful, doctors thought it would take Richardson much longer than it has to get back on the field.

"I'd probably say like 95 (percent healthy)," Richardson said on "The Pat McAfee Show." "There's still some rust I gotta shake off, but it took me like four months to start throwing again. They said it was going to take like eight."

The quick turnaround alone is impressive for Richardson, but the focus has now shifted to avoiding such an injury again.

Many have criticized the 22-year-old for his aggressive style of play with the belief he puts himself in danger too often, but Richardson is not planning to change the way he plays.

"I don't think there's anything I should change. Some of the stuff that happened, it just happened. It's football. It's a physical sport, so it's going to happen," Richardson added. "Hopefully it doesn't happen again."

Richardson did reveal, however, that he put on about 10 pounds, which puts him at about 255 now. He's hoping his added weight and year of learning the offense will translate to on-field success in 2024.

"We're putting new stuff in because I'm a lot more comfortable with the offense now, a lot more comfortable with the guys," Richardson concluded.

Richardson's first year in the league was a small sample size, but if he can pick up right where he left off and stay healthy, Indianapolis could catch a lot of teams by surprise.