Ben Arthur
AFC South Reporter
There must be endurance in Anthony Richardson’s return in 2024.
Even with rave opinions of his shoulder rehab and exercises within the lead-up to the beginning of the Colts‘ offseason program final month, final yr’s No. 4 decide shall be monitored in OTAs within the upcoming weeks. Perhaps that continues into coaching camp this summer season, too. And there could also be rookie errors on the sphere. In any case, Richardson performed simply 173 snaps — together with only one full sport — earlier than struggling a season-ending AC joint sprain in Week 5 final season. There are lots of studying experiences that he did not have that he must undergo in 2024.
All these components grasp over Richardson, whose well being and play will outline the Colts’ success this season. Their lack of great strikes in free company symbolize a perception in his potential to raise the workforce into competition.
What if that potential really exceeds expectations?
On paper, Indianapolis has set the inspiration for a probably massive bounce again for Richardson in Yr 2.
Basic supervisor Chris Ballard has emphasised the necessity to defend Richardson and get him extra weapons within the offseason. The Colts backed that up within the draft, utilizing 4 of their high 5 picks on an offense that was a top-10 scoring unit final season: offensive linemen Matt Goncalves (third spherical) and Tanor Bortolini (fourth spherical) and vast receivers Adonai Mitchell (second spherical) and Anthony Gould (fifth spherical).
Indianapolis already has a longtime beginning offensive line in Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries and Braden Smith. As mid-round picks, Goncalves and Bortolini add invaluable depth.
The Colts see positional flexibility in each gamers. They imagine Gonclaves — who they traded up for within the third spherical — can play sort out, guard and possibly even heart. They imagine Bortolini is an inside swing participant.
“You may by no means have sufficient good linemen,” Ballard stated.
Mitchell, a first-round expertise the Colts acquired at No. 52 total, proved to be a dynamic exterior receiver on the school degree who confirmed up within the largest moments. He had 5 touchdowns in as many Faculty Soccer Playoff video games in his time at Georgia and Texas.
“I feel he is acquired a uncommon potential to separate on the high of routes,” coach Shane Steichen stated. “He is acquired an arsenal of releases versus press man. You may see it present up on tape. … The man is a competitor. To get him the place we acquired him, I could not be extra fired up about it.”
Quinn Ewers connects with Adonai Mitchell on a 14-yard TD strike
The rookie will be a part of an already promising vast receiver room led by standout Michael Pittman Jr. (signed a three-year, $68 million extension in March), third-year deep menace Alec Pierce and slot receiver Josh Downs, who’s anticipated to have an enormous Yr 2 after catching 68 passes for 771 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie.
Tight finish Jelani Woods can also be anticipated to make his return in 2024. An athletic, 6-foot-7 goal, the 2022 third-round decide missed all of final season with a hamstring situation. His 312-yard rookie season in 15 video games with three totally different quarterbacks (Matt Ryan, Nick Foles, Sam Ehlinger) is a snapshot of what may very well be potential with Richardson.
Then there’s the truth that Richardson and star working again Jonathan Taylor performed simply two snaps collectively in 2023. There’s a complete a part of Steichen’s playbook that the NFL world hasn’t seen but, crammed with run-pass choice appears to be like designed to thrust opposing defenses into battle.
After seeing the beginning of his 2023 marketing campaign slowed by a stint on the Bodily Unable to Carry out checklist (ankle) and a thumb situation late within the yr, Taylor discovered his groove at season’s finish. He had a 30-carry, 188-yard effort within the Week 18 thriller in opposition to the Texans.
That is the model the Professional-Bowl again the Colts are pairing with Richardson, who flashed dynamic dual-threat potential in his abbreviated rookie season.
“It is really a very good drawback to have as a result of we have a variety of dudes,” Steichen stated. “Clearly, there’s one soccer that goes round, however we have a variety of expertise. We have to make the most of that expertise. That is our job: to place these guys in place to go do it. However we’re fired up about what we have now on offense. We have to place the work in, you already know what I imply? We get these guys within the constructing this offseason and going into coaching camp, put them able to succeed.”
On paper, the Colts have achieved that for Richardson.
Ben Arthur is the AFC South reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a yr and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You may observe Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
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