Ranking Rookie QB Debuts: Colts’ Anthony Richardson Shines Despite Week 1 Loss

Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud both recovered well under plenty of pressure, but Indianapolis’s new starter dazzled with dynamic playmaking.

Conveniently, the three rookie quarterbacks tabbed as starters made their regular-season debuts during the early window of Sunday’s slate of games for Week 1 in the NFL.

At times, Bryce Young, C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson appeared overwhelmed, but the three first-round picks brushed off slow starts and flashed high potential in their respective games—some more than others.

Young, the Panthers’ No. 1 pick, wasn’t rattled by an early mistake against the Falcons; Stroud, the Texans’ No. 2 pick, went to a reliable veteran to gain a rhythm vs. the Ravens; and Richardson, the Colts’ No. 4 pick, displayed his versatility and scored an early touchdown on the ground against the Jaguars.

Richardson was the first to score for Indianapolis Sunday :: Jenna Watson/IndyStar/USA TODAY Network

With all three rookies playing at the same time, we kept a close eye on their debuts. Here’s how they fared, with rankings and analysis of the Week 1 performances.

1. Anthony Richardson, Colts

Stat line: 24-of-37 (64.9%), 223 yards(6 yards per completion), 1 TD, 1 INT; 10 carries for 40 yards, 1 TD

Final score: Jaguars 31, Colts 21

Analysis: Richardson’s confidence in his elite skill set led to him having the best performance among the three quarterbacks.

He calmly stood in the pocket and decisively took what the defense gave him, starting the game 6-of-7 for 56 yards and one rushing touchdown. Richardson was the third quarterback taken in the 2023 draft, partly because he struggled with accuracy at Florida and only had 13 collegiate starts. But the 6'4", 244-pound Richardson showed improvement as a passer and didn’t rely on his legs to move the chains.

If I’m nitpicking, there is some concern with Richardson trying to do too much at times. He took a nasty hit late in the fourth quarter attempting to gain a few yards with his team down 10 points. Richardson managed to get up, but he was forced to leave the game. Also, in the third quarter, Richardson tossed the ball as he was being tackled by a Jaguars defender. Luckily for the rookie, he didn’t commit a turnover on the reckless throw, but he might have been better off taking a sack.

The Colts likely don’t want to tell their quarterback to tone it down, but it would be wise for him to avoid needless hits. Richardson is a showman, whether he’s doing backflips on the practice field or unleashing his cannon of a throwing arm in a game. It’s only Week 1, but the Colts might have found the next Cam Newton.

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2. C.J. Stroud, Texans

Stat line: 28-of-44 (63.6%), 242 yards (5.5 yards per completion), 0 TD, 1 lost fumble

Final score: Ravens 25, Texans 9

Analysis: Stroud had a unique start to his professional career: His first completion in the regular season was a batted pass to himself.

The rookie saw plenty of pressure behind an offensive line that struggled most of the day against the Ravens’ defense. Stroud prioritized protecting the football instead of looking to make plays downfield, which is usually the right decision for young quarterbacks. But the Texans found themselves down double digits in the second half and needed Stroud to play aggressively. He and the Texans also failed to get newcomer Dalton Schultz involved in the offense—the tight end had two catches for four yards.

Stroud played it safe, but he found a rhythm in the first half by throwing to veteran wide receiver Robert Woods. It was a disappointing start for Stroud, but he showed poise by not throwing an interception.

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3. Bryce Young, Panthers

Stat line: 20-of-38 (52.6%), 146 yards (3.8 yards per completion), 1 TD, 2 INTs

Final score: Falcons 24, Panthers 10

Analysis: Young developed a reputation at Alabama for having a calm demeanor on the field. But his emotions were tested Sunday in his mistake-filled debut against the Falcons.

With less than five minutes remaining in regulation, Young had an average of 4.1 yards per completion. The rookie failed to get his wide receivers involved, but he did have success throwing to tight end Hayden Hurst. However, Young’s first interception was also on a pass intended for Hurst, when Falcons safety Jessie Bates III jumped the route for the takeaway.

Young didn’t have the best protection, but he had a productive running game (154 rushing yards). It wasn’t enough for him to establish a passing game vs. the Falcons. As for a positive sign, Young brushed off his first interception and orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, which ended with a 4-yard touchdown on an option pass to Hurst. At that point, Young was 10-of-13 for 86 yards. The Panthers will spend the week assessing what went wrong after the promising scoring drive.