It’s safe to assume the 2024 season hasn’t gone according to plan for second-year Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.
The former No. 4 overall pick has had some up-and-down results on the field, and he was even benched in favor of 39-year-old journeyman Joe Flacco for five games throughout the season.
Richardson got some more bad news on Saturday as the NFL fined him $22,511 for an unnecessary roughness penalty in last week’s 24-6 loss to the Detroit Lions in which he lowered his helmet and plowed into Lions defensive back Brian Branch.
The play occurred in the third quarter on Richardson’s 17-yard run. Branch came up from the secondary to tackle Richardson, who lowered his head and ran over Branch en route to picking up a few extra yards.
A flag was not thrown on the play and Richardson wasn’t penalized for it during the game.
Branch has been on the receiving end of a few unnecessary roughness calls of his own this season, and he’s developed a reputation for being one of Detroit’s hardest-hitting defenders.
Richardson finished the game with 172 yards passing, 61 yards rushing and zero touchdowns. He was the Colts’ leading rusher, ahead of Jonathan Taylor, who mustered just 35 yards on 11 carries.
