As the Indianapolis Colts’ playoff hopes hang in the balance, quarterback Anthony Richardson did not practice Thursday or Friday due to back and foot injuries.
Richardson was listed as a DNP on the team’s estimated injury report Wednesday as well, although the team did not practice because it was Christmas. Despite Richardson’s inaction, Colts coach Shane Steichen said Friday that Richardson has not been ruled out for Sunday’s road game against the New York Giants. Steichen added that it’s Richardson’s back that’s bothering him more than his foot.
“We’ll see how the next 48 hours go,” Steichen said.
Richardson played all 62 offensive snaps in the Colts’ win over the Tennessee Titans last week, which included Richardson’s nine carries for a career-high 70 rushing yards and one TD.
The 22-year-old was asked Tuesday about his recovery this season as the hits pile up amid his responsibilities as a dual-threat QB.
“Man, from the start of the season, you’re gonna feel those hits the next day,” Richardson said. “It’s kind of weird because I was telling my family like, in college, I didn’t really get sore. But in the NFL, it’s a different breed, different game. You got some grown men out there playing football, so it’s always a little different getting tackled by those guys. But it’s all part of it. You just gotta keep adjusting and keep your body right, so you can keep performing.”
Richardson has missed four games this season: two due to a right oblique injury that sidelined him in Weeks 5 and 6 and another two after being benched in Weeks 9 and 10.
He has missed 15 games across two NFL seasons due to injury alone, with the majority of those absences being due to a season-ending AC joint sprain he sustained in Week 5 of last season.
Richardson has thrown eight touchdowns against 12 interceptions in 11 games this year, and he’s added six rushing TDs. His 47.7 completion percentage is the lowest in the NFL among qualified QBs.
Richardson is 6-5 as the Colts’ starter this year, but if he’s unavailable Sunday at MetLife Stadium, the Colts will turn to backup Joe Flacco. The 39-year-old former Super Bowl champ has started four games this season, going 1-3, and has appeared in six games overall. Flacco has thrown nine touchdowns against five interceptions with a 66.5 completion percentage.
The Colts currently have a 12 percent chance of reaching the postseason, per The Athletic’s NFL playoff projection model, and must win their final two regular-season games to potentially end their three-year playoff drought. However, Indianapolis would be eliminated from playoff contention regardless if the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos both win Saturday. Los Angeles plays at New England, while Denver plays at Cincinnati.
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