Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson made his return after a two-week absence to face the Miami Dolphins during NFL Week 7. The second-year player had previously missed most of the last season and left early in Week 4 due to an oblique injury. He was back in action on Sunday, though he did not perform at his best.
Richardson completed 10 of 24 passes for 129 yards with no touchdowns. He led his team in rushing, carrying the ball 14 times for 56 yards. The Colts struggled offensively, with six drives resulting in three-and-outs through the third quarter. Their only scoring drives in the fourth quarter resulted in field goals.
On third-down attempts, Richardson managed just 1 of 7 completions for 10 yards. However, he also had some success running, with 4 carries for 33 yards on those plays. He did not throw any passes while in the red zone, and a mishandled handoff led to the team’s only turnover.
Despite the challenges, there were notable moments in the game. One play featured a double-reverse flea-flicker that gained 13 yards. Richardson also ran for 12 yards after the Colts forced a turnover, contributing to a successful drive that tied the game at 10-10. He connected with Michael Pittman Jr. for a 33-yard pass, helping set up a field goal at the end of the first half.
As of Week 7, Richardson’s overall statistics stand at 49 completions on 101 attempts (48.5%) for 783 yards, with 3 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He has also been sacked 4 times and has amassed 197 rushing yards on 35 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt with one rushing touchdown.
Richardson is currently in the second year of a four-year rookie contract worth nearly $34 million, accounting for $7.725 million against the Colts’ salary cap this season.
In other team news, Joe Flacco, who joined the Colts in the offseason, has appeared in four games, completing 71 of 108 passes (65.7%) for 716 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 1 interception, with six sacks recorded against him. His one-year contract counts $5 million toward the salary cap.