Will Colts change how Anthony Richardson plays after injuries?

Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter spoke with reporters during a midweek news conference and addressed whether quarterback Anthony Richardson will make fewer plays with his legs after he dealt with multiple physical setbacks as a rookie. 

"You don’t want to restrict that," Cooter said about Richardson's athletic talent, as shared by Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "You don’t want to say, 'Hey, never ever move around,' because gosh, he’s so special. He’s so special at it and it’s finding that balance, finding that sweet spot of being able to use our athleticism, use his athleticism, but like I said, be able to get up, play that next play, play that next game, and that’s what we’re all trying — trying to get this thing done." 

Many believed after the Colts made Richardson the fourth pick of the 2023 NFL Draft that he should sit and learn from the sidelines as a 21-year-old who recorded just 13 college starts while at Florida. Indianapolis instead named him its starter shortly after he tossed just 12 passes in his preseason debut, and that decision worked out quite poorly for both player and club. 

Richardson was visibly shaken up in the closing minutes of Indianapolis' Week 1 matchup before he suffered a concussion in Week 2. He then went down with what became a campaign-ending shoulder injury in his fourth game. 

Cooter suggested during his comments that the action on the field will slow down for Richardson by September even though the signal-caller failed to finish four total contests this past fall. 

"Like every young player, especially at the quarterback position, you learn how to take care of yourself and how important it is that we’re out there for a bunch of games and able to sort of manage how we go through a season because it is a longer season in the NFL than college," Cooter added about Richardson. "Be able to go about our business and learn how to sort of play game after game after game and show up every single game."

In his limited action last year, Richardson completed 50-of-84 (59.5 percent) passes for 577 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 136 yards and four scores on 25 carries. 

If Richardson fails to show this coming season that he can "play game after game," those running the Colts may have to start having some uncomfortable conversations about the club's quarterback situation as soon as January 2025.