Indianapolis Colts ‘bracing to lose rookie QB Anthony Richardson for up to SIX WEEKS following MRI on shoulder’… after he suffered a third major injury in just five NFL games

The early word on Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson’s shoulder isn’t good.

The team is waiting for results of an MRI to confirm an initial diagnosis of a Grade 3 AC joint sprain, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports. Russini writes that the team is expected him to miss 4-to-6 weeks.

The good news for Indianapolis is that backup Gardner Minshew led the Colts to a 23-16 upset of the Tennessee Titans after Richardson’s exit.

The No. 4 overall pick hurt his right shoulder injury late in the first half when he fell awkwardly to the ground on a 4-yard run with two Titans defenders draped around him. 

He stayed down several minutes before walking slowly from the field to the injury tent with his shoulder drooped. Several minutes later, he came out of the tent and walked with the team’s medical personnel into the locker room.

Anthony Richardson (5) sits on the field with a shoulder injury during the second quarter

Minshew ended up completing 11 of 14 passes for 155 yards in relief as the Colts beat the Titans

It is his second significant injury in just five NFL games. He previously hurt his right knee in the season opener and sustained a concussion against the Houston Texans in Week 2.

‘I don’t, I just know he has the shoulder,’ coach Shane Steichen said when asked about Richardson’s injury on Sunday. ‘We ran something similar to that last week where he popped the big one and then, obviously, this week, he got the shoulder on that play.

‘That’s stuff that you’ve got to look at, be smart with and it’s part of the game and you don’t want it to happen.’

Minshew ended up completing 11 of 14 passes for 155 yards in relief as Indianapolis outscored Tennessee, 13-10, in the second half.