NEWSLETTER
With news that Anthony Richardson was named the Indianapolis Colts’ starting quarterback, all three quarterbacks taken in the first four selections of the 2023 NFL Draft are now confirmed to be the starters for their teams in Week 1 this season.
Anthony Richardson Named Colts Starting Quarterback
Rookie head coach Shane Steichen listed Anthony Richardson and veteran signal-caller Gardner Minshew as the team’s QB1 on their first unofficial depth chart heading into their preseason matchup with the Buffalo Bills last week.
Richardson’s abbreviated performance got off to a rocky start with an interception. However, the rookie out of Florida rebounded nicely and looked better with each series. Richardson’s athleticism and potential have never been questioned. His ceiling may be higher than any of the quarterbacks in April’s NFL Draft. His floor may also be among the lowest. The only way the Colts will find out is by playing him.
There’s an age-old debate on whether or not you should wait for a starting quarterback to be “ready.” But that just doesn’t fit the modern-day NFL. Particularly the modern-day money in the NFL. The quarterback position is far and away the highest-paid position. A team with a rookie quarterback only has a couple of years to decide whether or not their current guy is their long-term guy before that guy starts making upwards of $50 million per season.
So, play him. Find out early whether or not he’s that guy. That’s what the Colts and most NFL teams do nowadays.
Richardson spent three seasons with the Gators and became the starter for the 2022 season. He threw for 2,549 yards with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season. Richardson also rushed for 654 yards and nine touchdowns.
“I want to be great,” Richardson said. “I want to be remembered. I don’t want to just be one of those guys like, ‘OK, he was in the league.’ I want my legacy to be forever, and I’m working. Just trying to work forever and build (toward) a championship here with this team and this organization.”
Bengals Looking for Different Gear from Myles Murphy
Bengals first-rounder Myles Murphy made his preseason debut this weekend. He played 34 snaps in the preseason opener and logged two tackles and a quarterback hit against the Packers. Still, the rookie edge rusher was handed down some constructive criticism at practice this week.
Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo wants to see the former Clemson defensive lineman reach another gear during game action.
“Again, I think a lot of those guys, first NFL game, we’ll chalk it up to that,” Anarumo said (via Laurel Pfahler of the Dayton Daily News). “Hopefully, we’ll see an improved group when they’re out there as one, but he’s gotten better every day out here. He’s getting better. He’s just gotta shift it into a different gear when he gets out there in the game.”
The Bengals already have a strong edge rushing group with Sam Hubbard, Trey Hendrickson, Joseph Ossai, and Cam Sample. Therefore, Murphy will not be expected to immediately lead the attack. Murphy’s playing time in the regular season will hinge on his ability to answer the call of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo during Cincinnati’s final two preseason games.
Extra Points
- Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martingale issued a similar challenge to second-year pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux this week. Martindale wants Thibodeaux to ramp up his intensity during practices. “I’ve talked to him about his practice,” Martindale said, via a transcript from the team. “I think that he heard me clearly. I talked to him in front of the entire defense.”
- For what it’s worth, Martindale did acknowledge that Thibodeaux forced and recovered a pair of fumbles last week during the Giants’ joint practices with the Lions. So, seeing what he can do when he brings his energy level up in practice will be fun if he’s forcing takeaways at less-than-ideal effort.
- Despite some opposing players having no idea who Desmond Ridder is, the Falcons’ second-year quarterback has garnered mostly positive reviews throughout training camp. Still, Falcons head coach Arthur Smith wants to see more from Ridder this week. Smith said on Tuesday that he wants to see Ridder do a better job of navigating the pocket in the Falcons’ game against the Bengals.
“We need to execute, improve, take another step, get ready, feel the pocket so he’s ready to go Week One. That’s the thing you can’t see during practice — the consequence of holding the ball too long or you don’t move up, execute through your reads, all that stuff.”
- Luis will be in Indianapolis for the next few days to take in the Bears-Colts joint practices. In this morning’s Bears bullets, Luis asks how much will Justin Fields play in the Bears’ final two preseason games.
