Star quarterback Anthony Richardson set for additional absence due to shoulder injury, hampering his pursuit of comprehensive workload
Trouble for Anthony Richardson: Injury Woes Threaten NFL Career
Looks like Anthony Richardson's NFL journey just got a whole lot rockier. It's not the kind of trouble that drags your name through the mud off the field, but the kind that stems straight from the game, and it could potentially derail his career.
Last week, Colts coach Shane Steichen announced some unsettling news—Richardson, the team's top pick in the 2023 draft, is injured again. And it's the same shoulder that's been giving him fits since his rookie year.
Richard Shoulder Injury: A Repeat Nightmare
So, Steichen told reporters that Richardson has an aggravation in his AC joint, a common shoulder injury. He'll sit out this week's OTAs and the mandatory minicamp next week. The good news is, he won't need surgery right now. However, the uncertainty surrounding his training camp availability is concerning.
A Race Against Time
You see, Richardson's slipped up before. In his rookie year, he missed 13 games because of his shoulder, and last season, he was benched for a while, dealing with an oblique injury that sidelined him for two games[1]. In two seasons, he's missed more games than he's played[1]. For a player like Richardson, who needs countless reps and snaps to develop, missing out on playing time is a double-edged sword.
Meanwhile, the Colts are giving the reins of the offense to Daniel Jones, who signed to compete with Richardson for the starting QB job[2]. As a seasoned pro with 69 NFL starts, Jones will garner more on-field time than Richardson, putting him at an advantage in the competition.
Steichen, however, emphasized that Richardson was making "really good progress" before the injury[2]. Let's hope that progress resumes as soon as Richardson can get back on the field.
A Rocky Road Ahead
Missing games and Rep opportunities because of injuries is a tough combo for any player. And for Richardson, who's heavily dependent on physical prowess, it could be career-defining. Here's to hoping Richardson can shake off this setback, get back on track, and prove to the NFL world what he's truly made of.
Enrichment Data:
Details:
- Anthony Richardson is dealing with a recurrence of his shoulder injury, specifically an aggravation in his AC joint[1].
- The injury caused him to miss this week's OTAs and the mandatory minicamp next week[1].
- Coach Shane Steichen stated that surgery isn't needed for Richardson's shoulder injury right now[1].
- Richardson has a history of injury issues, missing 17 games over two seasons[3].
- With his absence, fellow quarterback Daniel Jones will reportedly receive first-team reps in Richardson's absence[1].
- Richardson's inability to stay healthy can hinder his long-term career prospects if he continues to struggle with injuries[1].
- The upcoming training camp will be crucial for Richardson to get back on track and demonstrate his readiness to compete for the starting role[1].
The recurrence of Anthony Richardson's shoulder injury, a common problem in American football, threatens his chances of gaining enough reps and snaps during training, potentially impacting his long-term NFL career. With Daniel Jones seizing first-team reps in Richardson's absence, the race is on for Richardson to get healthy and demonstrate his readiness to compete for the starting quarterback job in the NFL, preferably in sports like football, such as NFL or American football.
