First things first: Colts general manager Chris Ballard said a few weeks ago quarterback Anthony Richardson will be ready when training camp practices begin July 25 in Westfield.
Ballard, in an appearance on The GM Shuffle podcast, said Richardson will be "full-go," dismissing any lingering concerns about the 2023 No. 4 overall pick being held out of the Colts' final veteran minicamp practice with a sore shoulder.
So that leads us to one of the biggest storylines of Colts training camp:
What will we see from Richardson?
This is an intentionally open-ended question given this year's training camp will be different from 2023 for the second-year quarterback. A year ago, Richardson had to earn the Colts' starting quarterback job while splitting first-team reps on a day-to-day basis with Gardner Minshew II. In 2024, Richardson is the Colts' unquestioned QB1 entering training camp, and he'll have 13 practices – including three joint practices with the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals – to lay a foundation for the upcoming regular season.
It's not always instructive to read too much into a single training camp practice – good or bad – but by late August, we'll have a full scope of how Richardson quarterbacked the Colts' offense ahead of Sept. 8's season opener against the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium. Stacking good days is important, as is rebounding after a practice that maybe didn't meet expectations.
A few situational areas will be notable to watch in the coming weeks. The Colts in 2023 were 10th in scoring (23.3 points/game, tied with the Cleveland Browns) but were 23rd in the red zone (49.1 percent touchdown rate) and 26th on third down (35.3 percent conversion rate). No other team that was top 10 in scoring was in the bottom half of the league in both third down conversion rate and red zone touchdown rate.
The early returns on Richardson during the Colts' offseason program were encouraging – head coach Shane Steichen said in June his prevailing feeling on Richardson was "excitement" for the way he went about OTA practices, walkthroughs and meetings in the spring.
"The way he's attacked his rehab and going into all these offseason program deals in practice and just the way he's been in meetings, around the building around with the guys," Steichen said. "Taking ownership in everything he does, especially in walk-thrus, making sure we're wired up in there. He's been tremendous. So, really looking forward to the season with him."
It'll also be important to track how Richardson's chemistry grows with the collection of pass-catchers at his disposal. We got a glimpse of it a year ago, but Richardson's connection with guys like Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce and a deep group of tight ends will pick up again; he'll also work on developing a rapport with rookie Adonai Mitchell and running back Jonathan Taylor, the latter of whom played just two snaps with Richardson in 2023.
But more than anything, Richardson hasn't played football in public – either a practice or a game – since last October. His four games in 2023 were a glimpse into his physical talent and mental acumen – and how those two traits could generate explosive plays for the Colts' offense. The opportunity to watch No. 5 go about his business on the practice fields at Grand Park is absolutely worth a trip to Westfield.
"This has been a really cool offseason to be around Anthony day in day out and just watch him sort of operate, right," offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said in June. "Last year was obviously – it's a whirlwind for any rookie quarterback but he had quite the year. Hit with the injury, coming back from the injury over the offseason. To watch just the way he handles every single meeting, the way he handles individual drills with coach Cam Turner who does a great job with him. Anthony's out here to get better and it's showing up. It's showing up."
