Anthony Richardson Offseason Plan Is Creating A Sinking Feeling
Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
Even if you were hyped about Anthony Richardson‘s potential heading into Year 2, and even if you have some hope left that the No. 4 overall pick afterward, you can’t deny that his sophomore season was concerning. You could still see the talent. The big arm was still there in spurts, and he’s a genuine X-factor on the ground.
But everything else? Oof.
Anthony Richardson really is a fascinating study.
The best way I can describe it is that he can make the plays that no other QB can make, but struggles to make the plays all the other QBs can make.
Both these plays happened in the same game. pic.twitter.com/leqXeKEqzW
— Colts Film Room (@ColtsFilmRoom) February 11, 2025
We all know how things went sideways: Two separate injuries caused him to miss games, and he was benched for 39-year-old Joe Flacco. Richardson led the NFL in yards per completion, but when you complete fewer than half your passes, well… that’s not as impressive.
Still, the Indianapolis Colts went 6-5 in games Richardson started, and 8-9 overall. If the scoreboard tells all, the Colts were a better team with him under center than not. They just need a better version of Richardson, and whether or not they can get it is going to dictate much of their success for 2025.
So it makes sense that the Colts are going to work with him in the offseason, but this regimen, as spelled out by James Boyd at The Athletic, is veering into concerning territory.
The Colts will check in with Richardson on a weekly basis, per a league source, and they’ll receive frequent progress reports from his private trainers, which include Will Hewlett and Tom Gormley. Both trainers have worked with Richardson for years in Florida and have several other NFL QB clients. Richardson will also work with biometric expert Chris Hess, whom Bills superstar (and 2024 NFL MVP) Josh Allen credits for helping to refine his throwing motion, so Richardson can improve on his short and intermediate throws, per ESPN.
Obviously a lot of this sounds great. Like a young Allen, Richardson has so much raw talent that having someone who can harness it into consistent production is a perfect idea. And if you’re looking for hope here, the numbers between Allen and Richardson look very similar before turning 23:
Allen: 5-6 in 11 starts (12 games); 52.8% completions; 6.5 yards/attempt; 10 TD to 12 INT
Richardson: 8-7 record in 15 starts; 50.6% completions; 6.9 yards/attempt; 11 TD to 13 INT
Too much Anthony Richardson slander on the TL lately… I think yall need a reminder pic.twitter.com/mcKySSteu3
— Colts Enjoyer (@AR5Renaissance) February 14, 2025
But go back and read what the talk was when Allen came back for Year 2 with the Buffalo Bills. The Bills gave him a list of things to work on with his trainer, and he came back to rave reviews. “Josh’s understanding of what we try to do here, and his input, the give and take, he’s grown both mentally and physically, off the field and on the field as a leader,” raved then-offensive coordinator Brian Daboll. If there were weekly check-ins, they certainly weren’t public.
You also didn’t hear Allen’s work ethic questioned. Boyd cited his benching as being due to “underwhelming work ethic,” and his maturity has been a talking point as well.
In fairness, Richardson’s teammates have gone to bat for him in that department. Earlier this month, Jonathan Taylor told PFT Live, “You can see the energy he plays with on the field. Similar to a Baker Mayfield-type of competitive nature, you can see it in their eyes… He’s on the film. He’s in the playbook. He’s getting extra reps. So, he has that work ethic.”
But that might be more concerning, at least for the relationship between the player and team. If there’s elite talent and a strong work ethic with Richardson, why can’t the coaches and front office connect with him to bring it out? Why is the team leaking out that they’re “monitoring” him this offseason?
Maybe there are instances of this sort of thing working out, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that this might be another step on the road of a talented young player needing a change of scenery. Here’s to hoping that sinking feeling is wrong, because Colts fans have seen Richardson at his best, and we’d really, really like to see more of it.
Up Next