Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. picked up a right pinkie finger injury in Thursday’s preseason loss to the Ravens, adding to the concerningly long list of knocks he’s dealt with in three NFL seasons.
Reports eventually came out that Richardson would miss much less time than originally anticipated as the severity of his injury was rather minor.
The most recent development reports the third-year quarterback, who’s in the thick of a battle for the starting job with Daniel Jones, is set to miss no time at all as he plans to practice Saturday evening.
While Richardson’s rapid return is a promising sign for him, the Colts may have actually benefited from a longer absence.
Without him and Jones splitting practice reps, head coach Shane Steichen can have an extended period of work with Jones and truly feel out whether or not he can be a strong fit in the offense.
At the end of the day, the best ability is availability, and Richardson does need to show he can stay healthy for a full season.
But there’s no ignoring how a longer recovery time could give the Colts the closure they need to finally move on from their former top-five pick in favor of a trusty, more reliable veteran.