Remember when the Colts couldn’t find a reliable Quarterback? They now have two of those. And no, there isn’t a QB controversy in Indianapolis. Gardner Minshew said it himself: “This is Anthony Richardson’s team.” Both guys have played well. Both guys have been needed. And both guys will be needed all season long. This QB tandem is a big reason the Colts are off to a 3-2 start.
Minshew was brought to Indy to be a reliable backup for Anthony Richardson. If Richardson struggled to adjust to the NFL game, or suffered any injuries, the Colts had that insurance policy in place. So far, it has looked like one of the best free agent signings in the NFL. And now, AR5 is expected to miss 4-8 weeks with an AC sprain in his right shoulder. It’s an unfortunate blow to the No. 4-pick from this year’s NFL Draft. For the Colts? The show goes on, and it will be “business as usual” for the team moving forward.
Minshew has already helped the Colts win games in the early going, and this next stretch of the schedule is still favorable for this team. Winning in Jacksonville will be a challenge on Sunday. But after that? The Colts will host the Browns and Saints, then face the Panthers, Patriots, and Buccaneers. If they can hold their own and even win a few games in this stretch, they’ll be within striking distance of the playoffs by the time Richardson returns. A lot of “experts” didn’t give this team any chance this season, and they’ve already exceeded many expectations.
On the “not so” bright side, questions about Richardson’s durability will linger for a while. Is he going to be injury prone his whole career? Maybe. Maybe not. I’m not ready to label the kid this early in his career. I don’t think a concussion fits into the “injury prone” category. He also could have returned to play in the opening week. And then of course he had the shoulder injury last game. Is this concerning? Absolutely. But let’s put the RG3 or Andrew Luck comparisons to rest and give the kid a break. He has been impressive on the field so far, and we can only hope he gets back sooner than later. I do believe the future is bright with him as QB1.
It’s a luxury having two solid options at Quarterback, and I’ll say the same for Running Back. With injuries being so prevalent in the NFL, it’s never a bad thing to have two (or more) good players at each position. Remember how nice it was having the Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes tandem the year the Colts won the Super Bowl? Now they’ve got Zack Moss and Jonathan Taylor. This will give Head Coach Shane Steichen lots of options to mix and match with his offensive strategy, and of course, gives the team insurance in case of an injury.
Just one year ago, the Colts had Frank Reich, an old QB, an unknown situation with Jonathan Taylor, and a whole lot of frustration. And now? They have a young Head Coach, two solid QB’s and RB’s, and the momentum is starting to build for this franchise once again.
Tyler Smith covers the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Hoosiers for IndySportsLegends and is a frequent contributor to the Journal Review. He is also the youth and sports pastor at New Hope Christian Church.
