Anthony Richardson Sr. back with Colts, but coach says little about QB's eye injury, role
AFC EastBillsDolphinsJetsPatriotsAFC NorthBengalsBrownsRavensSteelersAFC SouthColtsJaguarsTexansTitansAFC WestBroncosChargersChiefsRaidersNFC EastCommandersCowboysEaglesGiantsNFC NorthBearsLionsPackersVikingsNFC SouthBuccaneersFalconsPanthersSaintsNFC West49ersCardinalsRamsSeahawksScores & ScheduleStandingsFantasyNFL OddsNFL PicksNFL DraftPodcastsNFL Newsletter2027 NFL Free AgentsPost-Draft OutlooksPower RankingsEarly 2027 Mock DraftThe Beast2026 NFL Colts head coach Shane Steichen offered few words on what Anthony Richardson's role might be with the Colts next season. Grace Hollars / Imagn Images Share articleINDIANAPOLIS – Anthony Richardson Sr. rejoined the Indianapolis Colts for voluntary spring practice Monday, but questions still remain about his recovery from a right eye injury and his potential role with the team after he requested to be traded this offseason. Colts coach Shane Steichen, speaking for the first time since Richardson came back to the team, addressed the quarterback’s return Friday after the first day of Colts rookie minicamp. “He’s back in the fold right now. That part’s been good,” Steichen said. “He’s working, going through his fundamentals, details, out there throwing with the guys. And that’s where it’s at right now.” Richardson, the 2023 No. 4 pick, lost the starting job to Daniel Jones last season. He made his trade request in February and remained away from the team while training in Jacksonville, Fla., during the first two weeks of voluntary spring practice. The Colts, however, have been unable to trade Richardson, and he ultimately decided to return to Indianapolis and rejoin his teammates for practice. Richardson still wants to be traded, but “until something changes,” he’s approaching his situation with professionalism, league sources told The Athletic. Steichen said Friday that Jones could participate in seven-on-seven drills during OTAs later this month, though the team will be cautious amid his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon. Jones’ limitations open the door for 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard, who started last year’s regular-season finale with Jones and Richardson sidelined, and Richardson to receive more reps this spring. But when asked if Richardson will now compete with Leonard, the presumptive backup, for the QB2 role, Steichen quickly sidestepped the topic. “Right now, we’re in May. We’ll see how it goes, obviously, with all that,” Steichen said. “But (Richardson’s) working. He’s here. He’s in good spirits. He’s cleared to play with the vision stuff, so that part’s good.” Richardson suffered an orbital fracture during pregame warmups last October. The injury required surgery and left him with impaired vision in his right eye. When asked Friday if Richardson still has any limitations in that eye, Steichen said Richardson has “been good,” but did not give a direct answer. “He’s been here for four days, but we’re just throwing right now,” Steichen said. “We haven’t done any team stuff.” Pressed further on whether or not Richardson’s vision has been fully restored, Steichen simply repeated that the QB is “cleared to play.” Richardson, 23, started 15 games (8-7) through his first two NFL seasons with the Colts. He appeared in only four games during his rookie year in 2023 due to a concussion and severe AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder that required season-ending surgery. He returned healthy in 2025 but was limited to 11 games due to an oblique injury, severe back spasms and a two-game benching for what the Colts described as a lack of maturity. Richardson started just 13 games at Florida before being drafted by the Colts, and has thrown 11 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in the NFL. He’s also totaled 115 carries for 634 yards and 10 TDs. He’s coughed up 12 fumbles and lost seven. Colts wide receiver Josh Downs was drafted in the same year as Richardson, and they’ve developed a tight bond. The two held an impromptu throw-and-catch session the night before their rookie minicamp began. Three years later, Downs said he was happy to have Richardson rejoin Indy’s other quarterbacks and throw him the ball again. “It’s good to have him back in here. He’s a good player,” Downs said Wednesday. “Really good attitude as well. He’s in here joking around, but he’s also working. So, I’m excited to see him back in here with a smile on his face and just going to work. … A.R. is needed, and we appreciate him.” Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports termsالمصدر: The Athletic | Source: The Athletic
ملاحظة تحريرية | Editorial Note: نُشر هذا المقال في الأصل بواسطة The Athletic. خبر (Khabr) هي منصة إعلامية أردنية مرخّصة تعمل بالذكاء الاصطناعي. نضيف قيمة تحريرية من خلال: تحليل ذكي للأخبار، ملخصات تلقائية، رواية صوتية بالذكاء الاصطناعي، ترجمة متعددة اللغات، وتدقيق الحقائق. هدفنا جعل الأخبار أكثر وضوحاً وسهولةً للقارئ العربي.
This article was originally published by The Athletic. Khabr is a licensed Jordanian AI-powered news platform (Registration #82086). We add editorial value through: AI-powered news analysis, automated summaries, AI audio narration, multi-language translation (Arabic, English, French, Turkish), and AI fact-checking. Our mission is to make news more accessible and understandable for Arabic-speaking audiences worldwide.



