Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson injured his right hip during the first quarter of Sunday’s 27-24 home win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but indications after the game indicated he could be fit enough to return next week. With 5:42 remaining in the opening quarter, Richardson went on a 14-yard run before DeShon Elliot hit Richardson’s hip, sending him to the ground and dislodging the ball. The Colts recovered the fumble but Richardson left for two plays, with veteran Joe Flacco taking his place. Flacco fired a 10-yard completion, then handed off to Jonathan Taylor for 13 yards before Richardson returned to the game. On the Colts’ first play, Richardson sprinted to his left and went to the ground after 1 yard, without contact. After going to the ground, Minkah Fitzpatrick and T.J. Watt hit the quarterback, but no penalty was called. Richardson grabbed his right hip as he went to the ground and then walked off the field under his own strength. “He felt good to go back in, ran the play and then felt it more after that next play,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said of his quarterback after the game. Richardson walked into the locker room for further medical assessment and was finally declared out for the rest of the day. NFL Network stated that Richardson’s first diagnosis was a hip pointer. “I’m feeling a little sore, but feeling good we got the W,” Richardson added. “I think I’m going to be good.” Richardson said he informed Steichen he could return after going down the first time, but he “tried to accelerate and couldn’t push off like I wanted to.” Meanwhile, the 39-year-old Flacco completed 16 of 26 throws for 168 yards and two touchdowns to help the Colts to victory. Richardson was 3-of-4 passing for 71 yards and had three rushing attempts for 24 yards before his exit. Indianapolis (2-2) handed Pittsburgh (3-1) its first loss of the season. Richardson, the No. 4 overall choice in the 2023 NFL Draft, suffered a concussion early in his rookie season and later sustained an AC joint injury that resulted to season-ending surgery. He was limited to four games as a rookie. –Field Level Media
