Tom Pelissero recently discussed the shoulder injury that Colts’ QB Anthony Richardson is working through.
NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero provided an update on Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, who is going to miss minicamp this coming week with a shoulder injury.
As Shane Steichen described prior to Thursday’s final OTA practice, Richardson experienced shoulder pain the week prior. Upon further evaluation, the testing revealed that the pain was related to the same AC joint that Richardson injured during his rookie season.
Steichen did not put a timeline on Richardson’s return, other than saying they hope to have him back at some point during training camp. But among NFL insiders, the belief seems to be that Richardson will be ready for training camp.
On a recent appearance on the ‘Rich Eisen Show,’ Pelissero provided additional insight regarding Richardson.
“They just made the decision, ‘hey, we’re going to back off him right now,’ Pelissero said. “Shane Steichen saying he’ll be back sometime in training camp is not really what I want to hear if I’m somebody rooting for Anthony Richardson to beat out Daniel Jones for that job.
“Now I was separately told yesterday that he’ll 1,000 percent be ready for training camp, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the Colts will let him loose. You’re going to want to ramp him up after he misses the end of OTAs and minicamp. You’re not just going to go out and have him throw 600 balls on the first day of practice. So these are reps that now go to Daniel Jones, and he gets more of an opportunity.”
Pelissero continued: “I know that the coaches in Indianapolis were really excited at the prospect of bringing in Daniel Jones, even though they’ve got this remarkable ball of clay in Anthony Richardson. It’s a ball of clay that’s spent so much time in the training room over the past couple of years that it’s cost him those reps that he sorely needed as a young player who had only started 13 college games and really hadn’t played a ton.”
In addition to Pelissero’s reporting that Richardson will be ready to go for the start of training camp, which for the Colts begins on July 22nd, it’s important to note that there may be an easing back in process for him. So even though he’s on the practice field on Day 1, it may not mean he’s leading the first team offense and alternating reps with Jones.
Steichen alluded to that during Thursday’s press conference, saying that the team will “ease him back into throwing” once he returns.
Once a full-go, Richardson will have the opportunity to compete with Jones for the starting job, but winning it does become more difficult with the time he’s missed during OTAs, minicamp, along with potentially being limited early on in training camp, if that is how things play out. With fewer reps overall, Richardson will have to make up for lost time.
