Anthony Richardson’s return to the field came with more than just a quarterback change for the Colts - it came with a reminder of how much he’s had to fight just to get back here.
Richardson made his first appearance of the season in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, stepping in for the erratic Daniel Jones. After the game, he opened up about the road back from his orbital fracture, and the answer sounded like a player who knows nothing about this opportunity can be taken for granted.
“Yeah, there were definitely times when I would go to the doctor, and they would tell me they don't know if I'm gonna get my vision back, or stuff like that,” Richardson revealed to WISH-TV. “I'm just grateful that I even just get a chance to go out there and throw a pass, regardless of if I step on the field or not. There was a day and a time where this wasn't promised for me, like I said I'm grateful for it and I'm thankful.”
That kind of perspective changes the conversation around him. The whispers about his work habits and the disappointment tied to his 2023 arrival have followed him for a while, but the bigger picture is simpler: he’s a young quarterback who has been through a lot, and the Colts still have a chance to see whether there’s something worth building on.
Richardson was always viewed as a raw prospect when Indianapolis drafted him, and the organization knew the development curve would be steep. He had barely played since high school, and the upside came with obvious risk.
The talent has never been the question. The question has been whether the Colts could unlock it with enough patience and the right kind of support.
That’s where the current situation gets interesting. Jones has not looked like a franchise-caliber answer, and with Shane Steichen most likely out, the next coaching staff may not be nearly as invested in him. The Colts don’t have a first-round pick, which leaves them with limited options and a simple reality: they can keep giving Richardson chances and see if he can still become something more.
They’re not in playoff position, and there’s no reason for them to tank. So the rest of the season can serve as a test run for Richardson, even if the team isn’t ready to fully commit. The possibility remains, however small, that a quarterback once seen as one of the most polarizing prospects in NFL history can still be salvaged.
After everything he’s been through, Richardson doesn’t look like the same inexperienced player who entered the league in 2023. The Colts may as well find out what’s left.
In Other News...
Colts Trade Deadline Could Open A Bigger Role For One Young Playmaker
With the NFL trade deadline drawing closer, the Colts find themselves in the same waiting game facing a lot of teams around the league: if a veteran moves out, a younger player may suddenly inherit a much bigger slice of the offense. That is the kind of ripple effect that makes this time of year so intriguing, especially for clubs trying to balance immediate expectations with the need to see what they have in their younger talent.
One of the names to watch in that conversation is Seth McGowan, who could be positioned for a larger role if the Colts make a move that changes the depth chart in front of him. For now, it remains a speculative setup rather than a certainty, but that is exactly what gives the deadline its edge for Indianapolis, where a single transaction could quickly alter the path for a young playmaker waiting for his chance. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Face A Daniel Jones Deadline Decision They Can't Avoid
Daniel Jones has become one of the more complicated names on the Colts roster as the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 10 approaches. His 2026 season has been uneven, and the conversation around him now stretches beyond the box score into the bigger questions of how Indianapolis views its quarterback room, what it is willing to absorb financially, and whether another team would even be interested in taking on the rest of his deal.
The challenge for the Colts is that moving on is not as simple as shopping a struggling passer and waiting for offers to roll in. Jones contract makes any trade difficult, and the public backing he has received from the coach only adds another layer to the decision. Indianapolis has to weigh whether patience is still the best play or whether the deadline forces a harder choice than the franchise would prefer to make. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Fans May Not Get The Downs Family Matchup They Wanted
The injury reports for Indianapolis and Dallas added a layer to a matchup that already had some extra family intrigue, but it may not deliver the Downs-on-Downs moment some fans had circled. Both teams listed players who did not practice or were limited ahead of the game, and the Cowboys report included rookie safety Caleb Downs, whose availability is now in question.
On the Colts side, Josh Downs has been part of the conversation for a different reason after requesting a trade, even as he said he is ready to go for the upcoming game against Dallas. For Indianapolis fans, the appeal of this week was obvious: a chance to watch one Downs in blue and another in Cowboys colors, with the added wrinkle of a roster situation that could keep the matchup from fully materializing. [Read more 🡒]