Colts QB Anthony Richardson reveals back spasms forced him to ‘crawl’ around house… but hopes to play Sunday
The potentially chronic back problems facing Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson left the former first-round pick crawling around his house, he told reporters this week.
“Last week was tough,” Richardson said Wednesday, when he did not participate in the team’s walkthrough. ‘On Tuesday I couldn’t even get up and could barely walk. …But I’m here, I’m standing now. If I can do everything in my power to get on the field, then I’m going to do that.
Richardson said he has been dealing with the worst back spasms of his life, but he still wants to play on Sunday when the Colts host the Jacksonville Jaguars to close their season.
The 22-year-old missed practice last week and Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants, which eliminated the Colts (7-9) from the playoffs.
“God willing, if I can go out there with my teammates this week, it’s great to end the season with a win because that will give us some confidence going into the offseason,” he continued. “Just find ways to refine certain things and just get better as players and just get better for the organization.”
Indianapolis selected Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he suffered an injury to the AC joint in his right shoulder in the win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 5. His season was over after just four games.
The potentially chronic back problems facing Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson left the former first-round pick crawling around his house, he told reporters this week
Veteran DeForest Buckner reportedly told Richardson he wasn’t living up to expectations
This season, Richardson has had to deal with injuries and a relegation. He has completed just 47.7 percent of his pass attempts (126 of 264) for 1,814 yards and has thrown more interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (8). Still, he is 6-5 in 11 starts.
Joe Flacco started in his place last week when Richardson was on the injury report due to back pain and a foot injury.
“They tried to hold on [Richardson] responsible, which is understandable, but the guy they put in wasn’t the guy either,” says Colts veteran told The Athletic of the struggling Flacco. “So when they went back to AR, that’s when I thought, ‘Okay, but what are we doing?’
‘That has had a huge impact on the team.’
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner went so far as to tell Richardson he wasn’t living up to expectations.
“I signed an extension here because I believed in you,” Buckner told Richardson, according to Jim Trotter of The Athletic. “But you have to do your part.”
There is good news for Richardson, who told reporters he does not expect to need surgery.
“I’ve been dealing with things like this since eighth grade, but it’s never been this serious,” he said. “It was definitely a little scary last week, not being able to move. But like I said, I’m up now and I’m looking forward to playing this week if I can.”
Although Richardson said he is feeling better, he estimated he would not participate in the walkthrough. Head coach Shane Steichen has not ruled him out against the Jaguars (4-12).
“We are hopeful,” Steichen said. “He’s currently doing his rehabilitation and treatment, so we’ll see how the week progresses with that.”