The Indianapolis Colts nearly reached the postseason this past year in the first season under head coach Shane Steichen. But if they are going to make another move in the right direction next season, the team will need to find a way to keep second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson upright. And the organization seems to realize that this is the case.
Richardson flashed some serious upside in his rookie season at times both as a runner and a passer. Unfortunately, a litany of injuries resulted in him playing only four games before being sidelined for the remainder of his first season in the NFL.
He will be good to go entering his sophomore campaign. And his health appears to be of the utmost concern for the Colts heading into the season.
“When you’ve got a young quarterback, you’ve got to protect him,” Colts general manager Chris Ballard recently told reporters via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. “You want to continue to add playmakers around him.”
The Colts’ offensive line actually held up quite well, ranking smack dab in the middle in sacks allowed this past season. Richardson’s injuries more so popped up because of his frequent decisions to try and rush for additional yards on his scrambles instead of sliding to keep himself safe.
This could be chalked up to his inexperience in the NFL. He will certainly need to be smarter and slide more frequently if he wants to stay healthy this coming season.
It can also be argued that some more top-tier receiving options could help Richardson get the ball out quicker next year. And the Colts could certainly acquire a standout receiving threat in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
They currently hold the No. 15 pick in the draft, so the possibility of potentially trading up for a stud wide receiver is seemingly on the table for them.
