The quarterback carousel in Indianapolis continues to spin, and the Colts are once again in scramble mode under center. Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Monday that Anthony Richardson will remain on injured reserve for at least another week as he continues to recover from a delicate eye injury.
“He’s still working through it,” Steichen said. “It’s an eye - it’s very delicate. So he’s just resting it, and once the doctors and trainers clear him, that’s when we’ll move forward.”
Richardson, the team’s promising young quarterback, has been sidelined since mid-October after undergoing surgery to repair a broken orbital bone socket. It’s the latest setback in what’s been a frustrating start to his NFL career. After a shoulder injury cut his rookie season short, Richardson returned in 2024 and started 11 games before this latest injury halted his momentum.
The timing couldn’t be worse for the Colts, who are now dealing with another major blow at the position. Daniel Jones - who stepped in as the starter after Richardson went down - suffered a torn Achilles in Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars. That’s a season-ending injury, and one that leaves the Colts dangerously thin at quarterback heading into a crucial stretch of the season.
In stepped rookie Riley Leonard on Sunday, and while the numbers weren’t eye-popping, he did show flashes. Leonard completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards with one interception and added a rushing touchdown.
It wasn’t a perfect performance, but for a rookie thrown into the fire mid-game, it was a gutsy effort. Now, the Colts are hoping he can go again this Sunday against the Seahawks - though that’s not a sure thing either.
Steichen revealed Leonard is dealing with a knee injury, but there’s optimism he’ll be ready to suit up.
Behind Leonard, things get even thinner. Brett Rypien is currently on the practice squad and could be called up if needed. And in true emergency fashion, rookie tight end Tyler Warren is listed as the team’s emergency quarterback - a role no team ever wants to actually use.
With Jones expected to head to injured reserve, the Colts will have some flexibility to open a roster spot. Steichen acknowledged the team is actively evaluating its options at quarterback, which could mean a move is on the horizon. Whether that’s a veteran signing or a practice squad elevation remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Colts are running out of healthy arms, and fast.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Indianapolis - a franchise that’s seen more quarterback turnover than most over the past few seasons. But with playoff hopes still hanging in the balance, they’ll need to find stability at the most important position on the field, and soon.