Colts Officially Name Starting Quarterback for 2023

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen has officially named rookie Anthony Richardson the starting quarterback for the regular season.

It’s written in stone; Anthony Richardson will be the starting quarterback in Week 1 of the regular season for the Indianapolis Colts, per head coach Shane Steichen.

#Colts head coach Shane Steichen has officially named Anthony Richardson the starting quarterback. pic.twitter.com/pno7bu8aPh

— Jake Arthur (@JakeArthurNFL) August 15, 2023

Richardson will start his first meaningful NFL game against the divisional foe Jacksonville Jaguars in a chance to play his first regular season game at home in Lucas Oil Stadium, which could help him transition to the big time, right out of the gate.

The development of this story has been an interesting one. As soon as Richardson was drafted, many believed there could still be a chance that he would sit behind veteran Gardner Minshew for the first three or four regular season games. Perhaps even beginning the preseason with the second team.

This theory has already been dispelled with Richardson suiting up with the first team against the Buffalo Bills in a 23-19 loss for the first week of the preseason.

Richardson looked good in his debut, but the stat line alone won’t show it. He’d go 7-of-12 passing for 67 yards and an interception. He’d also be used in the running game for 2 carries resulting in 7 rushing yards.

What Richardson did display was instinctive pocket presence and navigation, great arm strength, the ability to shake off sacks, and the skill to drop passes into small windows.

If he can continue to progress, he could look better and better early on as the games pass.

Is this the correct decision by Steichen? Will it pay off for Richardson to get things going right away as a starter? Regardless of what opinions are out there on this decision, one thing is for certain: a fantastic offensive coach believes that a high-potential quarterback isn’t too raw to start at the highest level of football.

We’ll see what transpires in this interesting AFC South season opener and the beginning of Richardson’s legacy in Indianapolis. 

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