Colts QB Anthony Richardson reveals back spasms forced him to ‘crawl’ around house… but hopes to play Sunday

The potentially chronic back issues facing Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson left the former first-round pick crawling around his house, he told reporters this week.

‘Last week was tough,’ Richardson said Wednesday, when he didn’t participate in the team’s walkthrough. ‘I couldn’t even stand up on Tuesday, could barely even walk. … But I’m here, I’m standing now. If I can do everything in my power to get on the field, I’m going to do so.

Richardson said he has been dealing with the most severe back spasms of his life, but he still wants to play Sunday when the Colts host the Jacksonville Jaguars to end their season.

The 22-year-old missed practice last week and Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants which eliminated the Colts (7-9) from playoff contention.

‘God willing, if I’m able to go out there with my teammates this week, it’s just great to finish off the season with a victory because that’ll just instill some confidence in us going into the offseason,’ he continued. ‘Just find some ways to fine-tune certain things and just get better as players and just get better for the organization.’

Indianapolis selected Richardson with the No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he sustained an injury to the AC joint in his right shoulder in the win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 5. His season was over after just four games.

Veteran DeForest Buckner reportedly told Richardson he wasn’t meeting expectations

This season, Richardson has dealt with injuries and a demotion. He has completed just 47.7 percent of his pass attempts (126 of 264) for 1,814 yards and has thrown more interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (8). Still, he is 6-5 in 11 starts.

Joe Flacco started in his place last week, when Richardson was listed on the injury report for back soreness and a foot injury.

‘They were trying to hold [Richardson] accountable, which is understandable, but then the guy they put in wasn’t the guy either,’ one Colts veteran told The Athletic of the struggling Flacco. ‘So when they went back to A.R., at that point it’s like, ”OK, but what are we doing?” 

‘That really affected the team.’

Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner went so far as to tell Richardson he wasn’t meeting expectations.  

‘I signed an extension here because I believed in you,’ Buckner told Richardson, according to The Athletic’s Jim Trotter. ‘But you’ve got to do your part.’

There is some good news for Richardson, who told reporters he doesn’t expect to need surgery.

‘I’ve been dealing with stuff like this since about eighth grade, but it’s never been this severe,’ he said. ‘It was definitely a little scary last week, not being able to move. But, like I said, I’m standing up now and I’m looking forward to playing this week if I can.’

While Richardson said he is feeling better, he was estimated not to participate in the walkthrough. Head coach Shane Steichen has not ruled him out against the Jaguars (4-12).

‘We’re hopeful,’ Steichen said. ‘He’s working through his rehab and his treatment right now, so we’ll see how the week progresses with that.’