Over the course of every offensive possession, you’ll see players get subbed in and out the game. It’s nothing unusual as play calls and workloads bring different looks for the offense. But what you don’t see is the quarterback leaving the field.
That’s what made the Colts’ 10-play drive in the third quarter so unusual. Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson removed himself from the game — in a key spot — because he needed a breather.
After the Colts had a touchdown negated by a penalty, Richardson was sacked trying to extend the play on on second and goal. Initially, it looked like Richardson may have left the game due to injury, but he admitted that wasn’t the case.
#Colts Anthony Richardson came out after getting tackled on this play.
Is this the same hip/leg that he injured a couple weeks ago?
Edit: Reports are he was just out of breath apparently lol Arguably better to be injured than admit that. pic.twitter.com/OfGYtlkZt7
— Mike Kurland (@Mike_Kurland) October 27, 2024
#Colts QB Anthony Richardson on taking himself out of the game in the 3rd quarter: “Tired, I ain’t gonna lie. That was a lot of running right there that I did … So, I just told Shane (Steichen) I needed a break right there.”
(🎥 @WISHNews8)pic.twitter.com/5DiUalDXDU
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 27, 2024
The Colts had to settle for a field goal on the drive and ultimately lost, 23-20, to the Titans.
According to Richardson, all the running in the drive had him absolutely gassed. So, he didn’t think he could handle that third-down play. But that’s something you don’t see happen with a quarterback, and it clearly limited the Colts in that third-down play call.
