INDIANAPOLIS — The young fans leaned over the rails at Lucas Oil Stadium and held out hats, T-shirts and jerseys for Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson to sign ahead of Sunday’s preseason opener against the Denver Broncos. After Richardson autographed several items, many of the kids held up their new memorabilia with incredulous looks on their faces.
Scenes like this happen at every NFL game in every venue, but for Richardson, it served as a milestone. The last time it was game day at Lucas Oil Stadium, he wasn’t extending his right arm over his head to sign autographs. The doctors wouldn’t allow it following the season-ending shoulder surgery he had undergone to repair a severe AC joint sprain.
On Sunday, he was grateful to raise the pens and Sharpies again. He was grateful for the familiarity.
“I was able to go through my routine today — put my pads on, get a few snaps out there,” Richardson said after Indianapolis’ 34-30 loss to the Broncos. “Everything felt good.”
Shoulder included.
#Colts WK1 preseason recap:
• Anthony Richardson’s first game in 308 days
• Jonathan Taylor’s guardian cap
• AD Mitchell shakes off nerves
• Micah Abraham’s play of the day
• Catching up with Anthony Gould
(• Forgot to note Laiatu Latu shining) —> pic.twitter.com/CYThwDcrZR— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 11, 2024
The 22-year-old has been cleared to play football for months, but Sunday marked his first participation in a full-contact game in 308 days — dating back to Week 5 of last season. Before that streak finally came to an end Sunday, Richardson ran to midfield during pregame warmups, pointed to the sky and pounded his chest.
“That’s something I do every chance I get the opportunity to step on the field,” Richardson said. “That’s just me thanking God for the opportunity again. Everybody don’t get this opportunity to be on the field. Everybody don’t get the chance to be in the NFL. So, I just gotta make sure I’m appreciating (this).”
Richardson’s comeback performance didn’t include a jaw-dropping throw or dazzling run. He only played seven snaps on two drives, neither of which made it past midfield. But even in a small sample size, there were flashes of what he’s learned and who he could become because of it.
After going three-and-out on Indianapolis’ first possession, Richardson started the second one by ripping a 19-yard pass down the seam to tight end Mo Alie-Cox. Richardson said that play helped him settle in a bit more, but then came the moment of truth.
As Richardson dropped back to pass, he immediately felt pressure. The pocket was closing in on him, and he knew he had to escape. So, after surveying the field one last time, he broke to his left and took off running. Broncos defensive lineman Jordan Jackson was on his heels, and Richardson saw him coming.
Would Richardson try to make a move on Jackson, or would he duck out of bounds? Richardon’s split-second decisions will remain under a microscope all year as he tries to stay healthy during his second season, and he passed his first test with flying colors. With Jackson barreling down, Richardson didn’t try to be Superman. He darted out of bounds, accepting a 1-yard gain that allowed the Colts’ coaching staff and front office to breathe a sigh of relief.
“It was great! It was great!” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said with a wide smile. “Shoot, it was a first down and play-action pass and, shoot, no one was open, and he got out of bounds. Didn’t get hit.”
#Colts HC Shane Steichen on QB Anthony Richardson’s return:
“I thought it was good. First time in over 300 days getting out there and playing with his guys. He got seven reps. … Obviously wanted to start a little better on that first drive.” pic.twitter.com/a9zAaB7oIY
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 11, 2024
That first hit on Richardson’s surgically repaired right shoulder will come, but preferably when it’s unavoidable. Richardson previously said he is “100 percent ready” for the contact, and he didn’t play Sunday as if he was scared. Instead, he played as if he were a little rusty, completing two of his four pass attempts for 25 yards, plus his one uneventful scramble.
Even with that limited exposure, running back Jonathan Taylor, who played in the preseason for the first time in his five-year career, said he was thrilled to play alongside Richardson again. Last year, as Taylor was embroiled in a contract dispute while also managing an ankle injury, he made his season debut the same day Richardson’s season ended. The duo played just two snaps together in 2023.
They cleared that threshold in two drives Sunday.
“Anytime you have the game taken away from you for a significant period of time, it’s just that much better when you finally get to go back out there,” Taylor said.
The former league rushing champ finished with two carries for 4 yards but added that he and Richardson are “just getting started.”
#Colts QB Anthony Richardson on his pregame routine of pointing to the sky, which he was able to do for the first time in nearly a year:
“That’s just me just thanking God for the opportunity again. … Everybody don’t get the chance to be in the NFL.” —> pic.twitter.com/vMCndZkWZE
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 11, 2024
After the game, Richardson returned to the field to watch two flag football teams from local high schools compete against each other. When the girls finished their contest, Richardson, still in game uniform, made his way over to his family watching from the sideline. He hugged his mom and fiancee before cradling his young son, Anthony Richardson Jr., in his arms and smothering him in kisses.
A lot has changed since Richardson last played in a real football game, and a lot hasn’t.
“Throughout this whole process, I’ve been anxious to do a lot of things — just practice and put my helmet back on,” Richardson said. “So, it’s just taking it step by step, day by day. (Sunday) we had a game, and it just felt good being out there again.”
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(Photo: Todd Rosenberg / Getty Images)