Colts captain ‘had a conversation’ with Anthony Richardson after ‘tired’ QB pulled himself from game

Colts backmost Anthony Richardson pulled himself retired of Sunday’s crippled against nan Texans and his teammates are letting nan young subordinate perceive it.

“We had a speech astir it, and I deliberation he knows that’s not nan modular he needs to play up to, and nan remainder of nan squad holds him, too,” Colts prima halfway Ryan Kelly told reporters.

“I’ll benignant of time off nan speech we had astatine that. I cognize he’s going to return immoderate disapproval for that, and rightfully so, that’s a reliable look.”

Kelly’s sentiment carries weight since he is among nan squad leaders and champion players connected nan roster, making a second-team All-Pro successful 2020 and earning 4 Pro Bowl selections.

Richardson told reporters aft Sunday’s 23-20 nonaccomplishment that he removed himself from a third-and-goal play from nan 23-yard-line successful nan 3rd 4th because he was “Tired, ain’t gonna lie.”

On nan anterior play, Richardson collapsed free from a sack by throwing chemoreceptor tackle Foley Fatukasi to nan broadside and moving astir nan backfield earlier being tackled astatine nan statement of scrimmage.

Richardson came up and began tapping his helmet earlier Joe Flacco came onto nan section and handed nan shot disconnected to Jonathan Taylor earlier kicking a section extremity to trim nan shortage to 20-13.

The Colts backmost returned for nan adjacent possession.

“That was a batch of moving correct location that I did, and I didn’t deliberation I was gonna beryllium capable to spell that adjacent play,” Richardson said. “So, I conscionable told [head coach Shane Steichen] I needed a break correct there.”

Kelly, a chap squad captain, stopped short of questioning Richardson’s toughness.

“But besides he’s retired location giving it each for his team, right? It’s not ever beautiful astatine times. An violative lull nan past mates of weeks, conscionable having a difficult clip getting going astatine times,” Kelly said. “I thought we did immoderate bully things successful nan game. If anybody questions really difficult he plays, I don’t deliberation that’s nan case. If you watch his film, surely we didn’t move nan shot efficaciously astatine times, but he’s giving it everything for his teammates. He’s young. I’m judge it’s a learning infinitesimal for him, and I’ll time off it astatine that.”

Few will uncertainty Richardson’s beingness traits; it’s not each time your backmost tin propulsion a 318-pound protect lineman to nan side.

His passing skills, though, are adjacent to scrutinize.

Richardson has been going done galore increasing pains successful his sophomore slumping season, having completed conscionable 10-of-32 passes for 175 yards and taking 5 sacks successful nan 23-20 defeat.

The erstwhile first-round prime hasn’t completed much than 50 percent of his throws successful immoderate crippled this season.

Richardson played amended successful his short 2023 rookie play by solving his team’s reddish area woes pinch his legs.

He ran for 4 touchdowns successful 3 games earlier his run was trim short owed to season-ending enarthrosis surgery.