Injuries continue to wreak havoc on Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson.
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Richardson was knocked from Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans when he suffered a shoulder injury after taking a brutal hit after scrambling near the sideline in the second quarter. After Harold Landry drilled Richardson to the ground, the Colts quarterback immediately pointed to his shoulder, while writhing in pain.
"It looked like an AC Sprain," FanBuzz injury analyst Will Carroll said.
Fortunately for the Colts, According to NFL Network, Richardson underwent X-rays on his shoulder, which were negative, according to a report from NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Veteran Gardner Minshew came on in relief of Richardson, against the Titans.
X-Rays were negative for #Colts QB Anthony Richardson, source says. While he’s ruled out, that’s a positive sign.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 8, 2023
"This is a common mechanism for quarterback injuries," Carroll explained. When a quarterback is thrown down, and a couple bigger guys land on top of him, something has to give. Either the clavicle breaks, or the AC joint gives. There's just no protection for this injury. So, we'll continue to see it."
Prior to Sunday's game, Richardson missed one game after suffering a concussion during Indianapolis' Week 2 victory over the Houston Texans. Additionally, Richardson missed several plays in his NFL debut, after suffering a couple of lower-body blows against the Jaguars.
Richardson has shown much promise, especially in his ability to make something happen due to his mobility, during an already injury-riddled rookie campaign.
The Colts chose Richardson No. 4 overall in April's NFL Draft, and through his first four starts, Richardson has passed for 578 yards with three touchdowns to one interception while rushing for 136 yards and four more scores.
Through five weeks, the AFC South is shaping up to be one of the more tightly contested division races in the entire NFL, but the Colts' chances of winning it hinge largely on Richardson being both healthy and effective.
It will be interesting to see how new Colts head coach Shane Steichen adjusts his play-calling and Richardson's usage, especially given the contrast between the upside his athleticism offers and the suddenly mounting injuries at the very dawn of his NFL career.
