Anthony Richardson's strange 2025 season has arrived at an encouraging checkpoint.
The Colts are opening Richardson's 21-day practice window, coach Shane Steichen announced Thursday.
"As I mentioned last week, Anthony returned for physical activity, but he still has some vision limitation in his eye," Steichen explained. "So we're gonna get him back on the practice field, get him throwing, doing some scout team reps. It's just something that he'll have to manage through the process."
Richardson's return to practice does not indicate he's nearing a return to the lineup in any of the Colts' remaining three games. When asked if Richardson would start at quarterback if healthy, Steichen replied succinctly: "Right now, Philip's our starter."
Philip Rivers, the 44-year-old who unretired last week after over four years out of football to sign with the Colts and start an NFL game just days later, represents Indianapolis' best (if not lowest-risk) option under center as of now, with rookie Riley Leonard listed behind him on the depth chart. With years of familiarity from their time shared with the Chargers, Rivers and Steichen partnered quite well in Sunday's narrow loss to NFC title contender Seattle, and considering the Colts' desperation to stay in a playoff race that once seemed destined to include them, Rivers should be expected to continue as the team's top choice at quarterback.
Rivers and the Colts host the 49ers on Monday night.
Richardson suffered an orbital bone fracture during a bizarre pregame warmup accident involving a resistance band on Oct. 11, sending him to surgery and a two-month stay on injured reserve. As Steichen said, Richardson has yet to gain full vision in the affected eye but will be able to return to the practice field in the meantime.
"I can't answer that," Steichen said when asked if Richardson's full vision will eventually return. "Everyone heals differently. It's a healing process that he's gonna have to manage, but it's going to be great to get back out on the practice field going through all the stuff."
The fourth-overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, Richardson lost the preseason battle for the starting quarterback job to veteran addition Daniel Jones, being relegated to backup and watching Jones thrive under Steichen's direction. Jones' season-ending Achilles injury and Richardson's extended recovery from his orbital bone fracture prompted the Colts to pursue Rivers, leading them to this unusual place with three weeks remaining.
We'll see if it includes Richardson's participation beyond the practice field.
