"I couldn’t even stand up on Tuesday, could barely even walk," Richardson said. "Crawling around the house, that was all I could do."
An MRI revealed a disc issue that triggered intense back spasms, the worst pain he has experienced after dealing with intermittent back problems since eighth grade.
The injury kept Richardson out of the Colts’ 45-33 loss to the New York Giants, a defeat that ended the team’s playoff hopes.
Couple of things with Colts' Anthony Richardson's year 2 being over (back).
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) January 3, 2025
*He'll miss half of his 34 career games bc of injury. Two more bc of benching. Has started 15.
*He'll set Colts single-season record with lowest completion % (47.7%) with min. 200 atts. Replaces Jack…
The 22-year-old quarterback has faced a challenging season, with recurring injuries raising questions about his durability.
Over two years, Richardson has missed 16 games due to injuries to his shoulder, oblique, and now his back, as well as a concussion. Despite these setbacks, Richardson remained determined to finish the season strong and prove himself.
"If I can do everything in my power to get on the field, I’m going to do it," he said, expressing hope to play in the season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars. While he acknowledged that his back issue might become a chronic condition, he is optimistic about managing it moving forward. "Now that I know what it is, I can find certain ways to stay out of certain positions and just make sure I’m healthy," he explained.
He has since been ruled out for the season finale, ending his second NFL year.
𝗥𝗨𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗦: Multiple veteran #Colts players reportedly approached QB Anthony Richardson privately to tell him he wasn’t “meeting the standard” via @TheAthleticNFL
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) January 4, 2025
“They were trying to hold (Richardson) accountable, which is understandable, but then the guy they put in wasn’t… pic.twitter.com/RwaMVT2Cug
Richardson’s struggles extend beyond injuries, with inconsistent play this season as he works to solidify his role as the Colts' long-term starter.
He finished the year with eight touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a league-worst 47.7% completion rate.
Despite the rough season, Richardson is focused on improving his preparation and availability. "Hopefully, next year I don’t miss any games and I can just stay healthy and just play," he said. "That’s all I can do—keep working hard and try my best to be available."
Photo Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
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