However, this week he appears to be recovering well, potentially being ready to lead the team in their season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Having missed the previous week’s defeat to the New York Giants that eliminated the Colts from playoff contention, Richardson confidently addressed reporters on Wednesday for approximately six minutes, expressing his desire to return to the field.
“I’m definitely feeling a lot better,” Richardson stated. “The back issues were difficult last week. There were times on Tuesday when I struggled to even stand up, crawling around my house. But I’m able to stand now.”
Despite Richardson’s reported improvement, head coach Shane Steichen noted last week that the quarterback was still dealing with back discomfort, indicating that he might still participate in the game.
Richardson elaborated on his long-standing battle with back spasms, dating back to his eighth-grade years, with MRIs revealing disk issues that cause him periodic pain.
The former standout from Florida has also faced a series of setbacks in his initial two seasons in the NFL. A concussion and a season-ending shoulder injury limited him to just four starts during his rookie year. In his second season, he was sidelined for two games in October due to a hip injury, benched for two additional games in November after stepping out due to fatigue, and missed last week’s matchup. This streak of injuries has left him with an 8-7 record as a starter.
On Wednesday, the Colts opted for a walkthrough session, and Steichen did not speculate on whether Richardson would have participated in a full practice had they held one that day.
Nonetheless, there is optimism among Colts players and Steichen regarding Richardson’s return this week, even with the team’s postseason hopes already dashed.
“We’re hopeful,” remarked Steichen. “He’s in the process of working through his rehab and treatment right now. We’ll see how the week unfolds.”
Richardson expressed his eagerness to get back onto the field, not only to silence doubts about his consistency—having the league’s lowest completion percentage at 47.7%, alongside 12 interceptions and eight touchdowns—but also to showcase his capability to deliver a win against the Jaguars (4-12).
“It’s tough, especially watching us fall short in such a critical game,” Richardson reflected. “What matters is how we rally back and respond to the challenges we face.”