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12/18 12:31 CST Anthony Richardson cleared to practice, but Colts plan to keep
Philip Rivers as starting quarterback
Anthony Richardson cleared to practice, but Colts plan to keep Philip Rivers as
starting quarterback
By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) --- Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson
returned to practice Thursday, marking the first time in two months he's taken
snaps.
He's still not ready to challenge 44-year-old Philip Rivers for the starting
job.
Coach Shane Steichen said Richardson's fractured orbital bone has healed
sufficiently enough for him to be cleared for practice but that he would not be
activated before Monday night's crucial game against the San Francisco 49ers
and it's still unclear whether Richardson will be activated before the end of
this season.
"He has some vision limitations in his eye, but we're going to get him back on
the practice field, get him throwing, doing some scout team," Steichen said.
"So it's something that he's going to have to manage."
Steichen said earlier this week that the Colts didn't sign Rivers to sit on the
bench.
Richardson has been on injured reserve since mid-October when he was injured in
a freak locker room accident while stretching with a band as part of his
pregame warmup routine. The Colts (8-6) now have 21 days to activate Richardson
or to shut him down for the rest of the season.
The Colts took Richardson with the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft because of his
tantalizing size, arm strength and mobility.
But injuries have limited Richardson to just 15 starts and 17 total appearances
out of 48 possible games. He made only four starts as a rookie before needing
season-ending surgery on his throwing shoulder. He missed six games in 2024
with back and hip injuries and dislocated his pinkie during a preseason game
this year before losing the quarterback battle to Daniel Jones.
Richardson hasn't just struggled to stay on the field.
He's also had trouble with accuracy. His completion percentage, 47.7%, in 2024
was the lowest of any starter in the NFL. And in three seasons, he's compiled
an 8-7 record, a completion percentage of 50.6% with 11 touchdown passes and 13
interceptions. So Richardson is eager for a fresh start --- even if it doesn't
come till next season.
"I feel normal, able to see, able to drive, walk around, not bump into anything
so I feel normal," said Richardson, who plans to continue wearing a visor
underneath his face mask. "Sitting at home, it's not fun. It's really boring
not being in the building as much when it first happened, not being around my
teammates, not being able to go to the stadium and all that was really boring.
But I thank God for being able to go out there and practice."
Yet Rivers will continue to start after coming out of retirement last week when
Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon and backup quarterback
Riley Leonard, a rookie, arrived at the team complex with an injured right knee.
Rivers joined Indy's practice squad last Tuesday and five days later was taking
his first snaps in an NFL game in nearly five years. He nearly led the Colts to
a come-from-behind victory at Seattle but the Seahawks kicked a late field goal
to hand Indy its fourth consecutive loss, 18-16.
Rivers said Thursday he feels much more comfortable after having a full week to
prepare for the 49ers (10-4).
"Really trying to dive into San Francisco and take advantage of the extra day,
get into a normal game week," the Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist said.
"Last week was a normal game week but not really because it was all ramped up,
pretty fast. This has felt like more of a normal game week where we're able to
get started on Monday and Tuesday, so it's felt somewhat routine from a
standpoint of the daily operation."
Indy needs Rivers to play well the last three weeks as it tries to end a
four-year playoff drought. They face three strong defenses and three teams
fighting to make the playoffs --- San Francisco, two-time defending AFC South
champion Houston (9-5) and AFC South-leading Jacksonville (10-4).
Indy has lost five of six, sliding out of the division lead and into the No. 8
seed, which would leave them one spot short of making the AFC's seven-team
playoff field.
The 49ers, meanwhile, have won four straight as they try to leapfrog the Los
Angeles Rams (11-3) and Seattle Seahawks (11-3) in the NFC West to capture the
No. 1 seed in the NFC.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
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