Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, will not be activated from the injured reserve. It means he will miss the Indianapolis Colts’ last game, this Sunday against the Houston Texans. Overall, the decision is a disappointing end to Richardson’s third season, which has been plagued by injury starting in October.
Shane Steichen, the Colts’ head coach, went into detail further elaborating how “vision limitations” were behind the choice to hold Richardson out of action. The young quarterback was left with an orbital fracture around his right eye after a freak pregame accident with a stretching band. As such, since that tragic accident, he has been on injured reserve and not played since.
Richardson, meanwhile, has been a constant presence in practice, getting acclimated through the eyes of the scout team and going head to head against the first-team defense. Realistically, he has his eyes set on returning by the end of the season. He’s been training hard over the last two weeks to make that goal become a reality. After a long, frank conversation with Steichen on Tuesday, he received some crushingly unanticipated news. Yet the coaching staff chose not to put him on the active roster.
“No doubt. If I’ve still got a chance to play football, then it’s all out there.” – Anthony Richardson Sr.
Though the injury was a disappointment, Richardson was effusive and positive about his future in the NFL. He acknowledged that his eye is “not 100 percent, but it’s getting there day-by-day,” indicating that he does not feel significantly hindered on the field.
According to multiple reports, the Colts are open to trading up from Richardson if they get the right offer. His father, Anthony Richardson Sr., told The Athletic that when practice plays start looking like his son’s pre-injury self, none of it is by design. He stated, “Some plays, I catch myself out there throwing it, fitting it into spots that I was doing before.”
Richardson’s determination to improve remains strong. His father added, “Every day is going to be a day for improvement or healing.” This resolve should inspire confidence as Richardson heads into the 2026 season with a fresh outlook and strengthened aspirations.
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