One other powerful sport by quarterback Anthony Richardson doomed the Indianapolis Colts in a 23-20 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Richardson accomplished simply 10 of 32 passes for 175 yards with a landing and an interception to snap a two-game successful streak and put the Colts (4-4) additional behind the first-place Texans (6-2) within the AFC South.
He additionally raised eyebrows with a proof for why he left the sport for a play earlier than a area purpose within the third quarter.
“I used to be drained, I ain’t gonna lie,” he mentioned. “That was a variety of operating proper there. I did not assume I might be capable of do this subsequent play so I informed them I wanted a break proper there.”
Indianapolis coach Shane Steichen mentioned this week that they are merely searching for development from their younger quarterback from sport to sport.
It was arduous to see a lot of that Sunday as Richardson struggled to maneuver the offense for many of the sport amid heavy strain. The fourth total decide within the 2023 draft was sacked 5 instances and hit one other eight.
The efficiency got here after he managed simply 129 yards passing in his return from a hip damage final week, however the Colts made two fourth-quarter area targets to get a 16-10 win over Miami.
Steichen was fast to defend his quarterback Sunday, saying that everybody must do higher.
“We have simply acquired to maintain working by means of it,” he mentioned. “He is acquired a superb work effort. He grinds by means of these items, it is a course of, and we’ll do it collectively. This ain’t about one man — it is in regards to the staff. It is all the time in regards to the staff.”
Richardson has accomplished simply 44.4% of his passes this season. However the dual-threat QB disregarded criticism of his completion proportion.
“I really feel like I am an awesome passer,” he mentioned. “I have been enjoying quarterback just about my complete life. I am only a totally different quarterback from all people else so persons are going to attempt to level out that I am not as environment friendly as all people else. It is cool to me.”
He later appeared to match himself to Michael Vick when referencing his completion proportion.
“They are saying Vick did not have an awesome completion proportion his first couple of years, and he was most likely one of many biggest quarterbacks to ever do it,” Richardson mentioned. “So, I do not essentially take a look at numbers. I take a look at every play for itself as a result of I haven’t got the power to manage each single factor each play. I can solely management what I can management. If my numbers are low, that simply means I’ve acquired to choose them up and play higher.”
Vick’s completion fee as a rookie was 44.2%, however he performed simply eight video games with two begins that yr. He accomplished at the very least 50% of his passes in every of the following 5 seasons.
Richardson accomplished simply two of 15 passes within the first half because the Colts fell behind 17-10 by halftime.
A type of completions was an enormous one although. He discovered Josh Downs vast open for a 69-yard landing that put the Colts up 10-3 within the first quarter.
He could not do a lot after that, however Jonathan Taylor helped transfer the offense with 20 carries for 105 yards and a rating in his return after lacking three video games with an ankle damage.
Taylor mentioned it is essential for the Colts to assist Richardson as they attempt to get their offense going.
“We simply must let him know… now we have your again,” Taylor mentioned. “This isn’t only a one play, one-game factor. We’re in it for the lengthy haul, now we have a purpose that we need to obtain, and it is going to take all of us — each single one in every of us, each single day giving it their all.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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