INDIANAPOLIS — Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson had already made one ill-fated try and return to motion after injuring his proper hip in Sunday’s sport towards the Pittsburgh Steelers.
When he expressed his need to provide it one other go after being handled briefly within the locker room early within the second quarter, Colts coach Shane Steichen determined in any other case.
Richardson’s sore proper hip, which he sustained on a success on a 14-yard, first-quarter run, stored him out for 2 performs after which, upon his return, after one other run, for the rest of the sport. Richardson, the second-year Colts starter, gave technique to 17-year veteran Joe Flacco, who helped end off the Steelers 27-24, handing Pittsburgh its first lack of the season.
Richardson indicated after the sport that his harm was not critical.
“Feeling slightly sore,” he mentioned. “However nice execution [by] all people on the sphere. I believe I will be good. Just a bit sore.”
The soreness following the hit from security DeShon Elliott restricted his mobility, Richardson mentioned.
“My hip was hurting,” he mentioned. “I attempted to return on the market, however I simply could not speed up how I wished to. So, [Steichen] was like making an attempt to not mess up the crew proper now, so I used to be like, ‘I will simply sit.'”
He added, “I used to be trying ahead to going again on the market with my squad. I wished to contribute to the W. I believe I did slightly bit, however I wished to be on the market the entire time. However shoutout to my guys for getting the W right this moment.”
Richardson obtained off to a scorching begin, engineering a game-opening drive that went 70 yards and was capped by Jonathan Taylor’s 2-yard landing run. It was the primary opening-drive landing towards the Steelers’ protection since Week 14 of final season. Richardson was 3-of-4 passing earlier than his harm, together with a 32-yard strike to Michael Pittman Jr.
“He was on hearth,” Steichen mentioned.
However Richardson did not take concern with Steichen’s suggestion that he sit out after his harm. “They actually simply requested me how I felt to throw and stuff like that, however we each [agreed] it wasn’t greatest for me to return on the market,” Richardson mentioned.
Richardson’s newest harm will seemingly intensify the dialog round his sturdiness. Going again to final season, he now has missed important parts of three of the eight profession video games he has began. That features the Week 5 sport final season when he sustained a sprained AC joint in his proper (throwing) shoulder that required surgical procedure and ended his season.
Anticipating these criticisms, Richardson addressed them Sunday.
“Individuals are going to speak about accidents, individuals are going to say injury-prone, blah, blah, blah,” he mentioned. “However no one needs to get injured. All people needs to remain on the sphere. In fact, I used to be like, ‘Man, rattling, not once more.’ However it’s all good. It is God’s plan and I am trusting it.”
In the meantime, the Colts turned to Flacco and watched him thrive towards the Steelers — once more. The longtime Baltimore Ravens starter and Pittsburgh nemesis accomplished 16 of 26 passes for 168 yard and two touchdowns.
It was a second Flacco embraced, his first prolonged taking part in time since his late-season run in Cleveland final season that ended with a playoff look. The distinction right here, nonetheless, was coming off the bench with out warning.
“It positively took slightly little bit of time for me to form of simply calm down,” he mentioned. “I stored telling myself, simply do the straightforward issues. And it is positively a distinct expertise if you are available like that.”
Of notice in Flacco’s efficiency was a drive within the late third quarter and early fourth quarter on which he was 3-of-3 for 52 yards on third downs.
“While you’re me, if you form of are available and also you get thrown into these conditions, you simply belief your guys to do the correct factor and see what occurs ultimately,” he mentioned.
Taylor left the sport late within the fourth quarter with an ankle harm and didn’t return. However he indicated the difficulty was not critical.
“I am feeling fairly good,” he mentioned. “We got here out with the win, so I am excited to assault this week.”