Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson reportedly is “strongly considering” season-ending surgery to repair the injury to his throwing shoulder, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network on Sunday.
Currently rehabbing a Grade 3 AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, which he suffered on a designed run against the Tennessee Titans in Week 5, Richardson and the Colts are still mulling the option of surgery.
Rapport reported that the surgery is deemed the best option in terms of recovery for the long-term outlook and that the Colts sought multiple opinions.
Richardson is strongly considering season-ending shoulder surgery on his damaged AC joint, sources say, with a procedure deemed by some as the best option to fully heal his right throwing shoulder. Richardson and Indianapolis sought four or five opinions on his shoulder, sources say, taking their time before arriving at this conclusion.
Rapoport also said in the report that the MRI results showed that there was no tear in his labrum and that the ligaments “looked better than expected.” Even so, surgery is being heavily considered.
The Colts have a strong contingency plan in the form of Gardner Minshew, who has done well as a spot starter in Richardson’s multiple absences this season.
Outside of the injuries that limited him to play just 50% of the snaps through the first five games, Richardson showed a lot of promise as a passer, and he clearly was much further ahead in his development than most anticipated.
But if surgery is the route they take, this would be the last time we would see the tantalizing rookie until the 2024 campaign.
