Breaking: Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson remains sidelined with a fractured orbital, and as of today he is not cleared for football activities. The injury came from a freak warm-up accident with an elastic band on October 12. Richardson hit injured reserve the next day. He became eligible to return in Week 12, but the medical team has not greenlit contact or game work. With the Colts at 8-5 in a crowded AFC race, this creates a quarterback crunch at the worst time.
Richardson has not been cleared to return. The Colts are preparing for another week without him.
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What Happened and Where Things Stand
This was not a hit or a blitz gone wrong. It was a routine stretch gone sideways. An elastic band snapped near Richardson’s face during warm-ups, and the impact fractured his orbital. Eye injuries are different from the usual football knocks. Vision, depth perception, and light sensitivity all matter for a quarterback. Clearance is cautious for good reason.
Richardson’s story has always included sky-high tools and tough luck. The former fourth overall pick flashed power and speed early in his career. He also endured shoulder issues and long rehab windows. This latest setback adds another layer to a complicated path.
Today, he remains in meetings and conditioning work, but not in drills that involve throws under live conditions. The team continues to monitor swelling, comfort, and functional vision checks.
The Timeline and the Recovery Questions
The calendar tells one story. The playoffs tell another. Here is the sequence that matters to Indianapolis:
- Oct. 12, injury during warm-ups
- Oct. 13, placed on injured reserve
- Week 12, eligible to return
- Dec. 8, still not cleared for football activities
Medical timelines for orbital fractures can vary. Masks help some players, but only after the bone heals and vision is stable. Quarterback is not a position you fake with partial eyesight. Small delays now protect careers later.
Expect a return only when the medical staff confirms full function. Vision comes before velocity. 🏈
What It Means for the Colts
The Colts have already lost Daniel Jones for the season with an Achilles injury. That thrusts rookie Riley Leonard into the spotlight. He is talented, calm, and learning fast. He has shown poise in late-game moments, then paid for a few rookie reads the next drive. This is the life of a young quarterback in December.
The staff has adjusted. More quick-game. More movement throws. More stress on the run game and defense. Ball security has become the theme of the week, every week.
What are the options now, if Richardson remains out?
- Ride with Leonard and keep the plan lean
- Elevate a practice-squad veteran for protection
- Add a street free agent for insurance
- Lean on special teams and defense to shorten games
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There is no perfect solution. The Colts can win with clean pockets and a steady run rate. They can survive with field position and red-zone stops. December football turns on margins and mistakes. One turnover can swing a seed line, or a season.
If the rookie presses, the turnover battle tilts. That is the fastest way to watch a playoff chance slip away.
The Bigger Picture
This is a story about the thin line young quarterbacks walk. The ceiling is bright. The setbacks feel cruel. Warm-ups are supposed to be safe. Yet a simple band changed a season. It shifts practice scripts, roster math, and confidence in the huddle.
The Colts must also think about the long view. Richardson is a rare athlete. Protecting his eyesight now is a franchise decision, not just a weekly one. The front office will weigh his development, his health history, and the near-term push. A contract option decision is coming in the spring. Every snap, or lack of snaps, informs that choice.
In the locker room, the message is simple. Next man up, protect the ball, trust the call sheet. For Leonard, this is a trial by fire. For Richardson, this is another test of patience, and for the Colts, a bet that careful today beats regret tomorrow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What exactly happened to Anthony Richardson?
A: He suffered a fractured orbital during a warm-up accident when an elastic band snapped near his face.
Q: When can he return?
A: He has been eligible since Week 12, but he is not cleared. There is no firm return date as of today.
Q: Who is starting at quarterback now?
A: Rookie Riley Leonard has taken the reins with Daniel Jones out for the season.
Q: How does this affect the Colts’ playoff chances?
A: The margin tightens. Clean offense and defense-led games become the path while the quarterback room stabilizes.
Q: Could the team add another quarterback?
A: Yes, they can elevate a practice-squad arm or sign a veteran if needed. That remains under consideration.
Conclusion: The Colts hoped December would bring Anthony Richardson back to the field. Instead, the most unusual injury of the season still holds him on the sideline. Indianapolis will lean on a rookie, a rugged defense, and the thinnest of margins. The stakes are clear. Protect the ball, protect the quarterback, and keep the door open for a return only when the eye says yes.
