Seeing quarterback Anthony Richardson leave the game early has become an all-too-familiar sight for the Indianapolis Colts in his fledgling career.
Richardson was injured in Sunday’s victory over the Tennessee Titans, and Ian Rapoport reported his shoulder injury is serious.
“Sources: Colts starting QB Anthony Richardson received an initial diagnosis of a Grade 3 AC joint sprain, which would mean he’d miss a month or more,” reported Rapoport on Twitter/X .
“He has an MRI this morning to confirm. Either way, it’s likely Gardner Minshew next week and moving forward.”
The Colts are 3-2, and Richardson has started four of those games. Unfortunately, he’s only finished one of them. Minshew has played admirably in a supporting role to Richardson and has already seen plenty of action.
He led the team to a Week 3 win on the road over a very good Baltimore Ravens team.
He finished victories over the Texans and the Titans. On the season Minshew is 57 of 83 passing for 553 yards and two touchdowns with zero interceptions.
Head coach Shane Steichen expressed his support of Minshew in his post-game press conference on Sunday.
“Yeah, to me he is,” said Steichen when asked if he’s the best backup quarterback in the NFL.
“And I’ve been around him, and obviously I’m biased, but I’ve been around him and I haven’t been around other guys, but the way he’s playing when he comes in, he makes plays for sure.
“I think he’s an elite processor of the game, and when you’ve got a guy that can process the game quickly and make quick decisions.
He’s really good, he’s accurate, he knows where to go with the football at the right time and the right place, and he’s been awesome for us.”
Richardson and the team have surpassed expectations through the first-five games. They have a big test on Sunday when they travel to the surging Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jaguars won games in London over the Atlanta Falcons and the Buffalo Bills before returning home to face the Colts.
While the Colts would prefer to have Richardson on the field, they feel they’re in good hands with Minshew.