Indianapolis Colts Quarterback Anthony Richardson Officially Done for the Year

The rookie season of the Indianapolis Colts' quarterback of the future has been tragically cut short. Owner Jim Irsay revealed Wednesday that 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson will undergo surgery to repair his injured shoulder, ending his season after just four games.

After consultation with our medical staff, Anthony, and those close to him, it has been determined that he will undergo surgery to repair his injured shoulder, which will end his season. Anthony is a competitor, and we know how difficult and disappointing this is for him and our…
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) October 18, 2023

Richardson suffered an AC Joint injury in the Colts' Week 4 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans. He also missed Week 3 following a concussion suffered in a Week 2 31-20 win over the Houston Texans.

Richardson ends his rookie year with 577 passing yards, 136 rushing yards, seven total touchdowns, and two giveaways on a mere 173 snaps. He has certainly flashed tantalizing potential, but this early rash of injuries is a concerning development for a quarterback celebrated as one of the most physically imposing prospects the position has ever seen.

Richardson's overwhelming physical skillset elicited comparisons to Cam Newton and Josh Allen earlier this year, but if he can't handle a contact-heavy play style at the NFL level, he'll have a hard time growing into the franchise quarterback the Colts were hoping for. If his inability to stay healthy is anything more than bad luck through four starts, he may need to drastically alter his approach.

For now, the Colts can shift their priorities to the 2024 season. According to overthecap.com, they're set to enter next offseason with over $75 million in cap space, and they'll have a full complement of draft picks. Bottoming out this year may actually be the Colts' best bet at securing the surrounding talent they'll need to maximize Richardson's long-term potential.