[JAFF]

'Want to see where he’s at': Colts rookie QB Anthony Richardson to start preseason opener

WESTFIELD — Anthony Richardson was given the news right before the start of Thursday’s practice.

The rookie is going to start the first preseason game of his NFL career.

Pleased with the progression he’s seen from Richardson, Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen plans to throw the team’s first-round pick into the fire against the Bills defense and play Richardson at least a quarter.

“I want to see where he’s at,” Steichen said. “He’s been doing a nice job. Get him out there with the guys and go from there.”

Colts mailbag:Who makes it out of the TE room? How much will Anthony Richardson play in preseason?




Steichen left open the possibility that Richardson could play more than the rest of the starters. Indianapolis will pull its starters out of the game on a “case-by-case” basis.

Richardson’s earned the opportunity to play right away by taking ownership of the Colts offense.

From start to finish in training camp, the rookie’s energy has been infectious, and it’s clear he’s been trying to establish a rapport with the entire roster. Even when veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew has taken the first-team snaps, Richardson has opened practice periods by going to each player on the first-team offense with a fist-bump.


“The way he’s kind of melded into this offense, started to make it his own,” tight end Kylen Granson said. “We throw a lot at you right off the bat. … I couldn’t even imagine, as a quarterback, having to learn so much more, everything rests on your shoulders, but he’s taken it in stride, shown to be a leader. I’m excited to see how he does.”

Richardson’s excited to see the same.


There’s no way to know exactly how he’ll play. For all of the first-team work he’s done with the Colts this season, he still hasn’t played an NFL snap against another team.

“Honestly, I don’t know (where I’m at) because I haven’t gone up against anybody yet,” Richardson said. “But I feel like I’m in a good spot, and hopefully I can showcase that Saturday.”

Richardson will also be able to take contact for the first time in an NFL uniform, a double-edged sword in a preseason game.

On the one hand, Richardson can finally take the governor off his legs and cut loose.

But he still has to be smart about taking hits. Even at Richardson’s size — the 6-5 quarterback weighs 250 pounds now — there isn’t much reason to take a big hit in a preseason game.

The Colts are confident the rookie’s natural instincts will keep him from taking the kind of hit that could end his season prematurely.

“That’s one of his powers, that’s what makes him a dynamic player,” Steichen said. “Obviously, being safe, but he has natural feel, watching his college tape, for getting down, being smart.”

Indianapolis has telegraphed its desire to get Richardson into the starting lineup as early as possible from the moment Roger Goodell read the quarterback’s name on the podium during the NFL draft.



The No. 4 pick has played a lot less football than other rookie quarterbacks. Richardson spent just one season as the full-time starter at Florida. Because of that, the Colts believe he will develop best by getting on the field, and for that reason, Richardson is still in a battle with Minshew to be the team’s opening-day starter.

Buffalo represents Richardson’s first real chance to put a stamp on that battle.

“I know I’m going to be anxious,” Richardson said. “I get to play football again, so that’s always something big, and then being on the big stage, even going to Buffalo, I’ve never been, so it’s a first for everything. I’m excited.”

The key for Richardson will be to move past the nerves and play football. Unfortunately, his family likely won’t be able to be in Buffalo — Richardson’s little brother has a game Saturday — but the eyes of the Colts fan base will be all over him.

The rookie has been on upward trajectory in practices over the course of the past week, and he has to focus on the task at hand.


“I think you can get caught up in everything else,” Minshew said. “Just try to go score, try to go win each drive, win each play.” Then both Richardson and the Colts will have a better idea of how far he needs to go