Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson pulled himself out of Sunday’s game against the Texans and his teammates are letting the young player hear it.
“We had a conversation about it, and I think he knows that’s not the standard he needs to play up to, and the rest of the team holds him, too,” Colts star center Ryan Kelly told reporters.
“I’ll kind of leave the conversation we had at that. I know he’s going to take some criticism for that, and rightfully so, that’s a tough look.”
Kelly’s opinion carries weight since he is among the team leaders and best players on the roster, making a second-team All-Pro in 2020 and earning four Pro Bowl selections.
Richardson told reporters after Sunday’s 23-20 loss that he removed himself from a third-and-goal play from the 23-yard-line in the third quarter because he was “Tired, ain’t gonna lie.”
On the prior play, Richardson broke free from a sack by throwing nose tackle Foley Fatukasi to the side and running around the backfield before being tackled at the line of scrimmage.
Richardson came up and began tapping his helmet before Joe Flacco came onto the field and handed the ball off to Jonathan Taylor before kicking a field goal to cut the deficit to 20-13.
The Colts quarterback returned for the next possession.
“That was a lot of running right there that I did, and I didn’t think I was gonna be able to go that next play,” Richardson said. “So, I just told [head coach Shane Steichen] I needed a break right there.”
Kelly, a fellow team captain, stopped short of questioning Richardson’s toughness.
“But also he’s out there giving it all for his team, right? It’s not always pretty at times. An offensive lull the last couple of weeks, just having a hard time getting going at times,” Kelly said. “I thought we did some good things in the game. If anybody questions how hard he plays, I don’t think that’s the case. If you watch his film, surely we didn’t move the ball effectively at times, but he’s giving it everything for his teammates. He’s young. I’m sure it’s a learning moment for him, and I’ll leave it at that.”
Few will doubt Richardson’s physical traits; it’s not every day your quarterback can throw a 318-pound defensive lineman to the side.
His passing skills, though, are fair to scrutinize.
Richardson has been going through many growing pains in his sophomore slumping season, having completed just 10-of-32 passes for 175 yards and taking five sacks in the 23-20 defeat.
The former first-round pick hasn’t completed more than 50 percent of his throws in any game this season.
Richardson played better in his short 2023 rookie season by solving his team’s red zone woes with his legs.
He ran for four touchdowns in three games before his campaign was cut short due to season-ending shoulder surgery.