Anthony Richardson hasn’t officially been named the starter in Indy, but there are signs that he will be the one under center when Week 1 of the NFL season rolls around.
The most recent signal is rather blatant one. Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced that Richardson will be the starter for the team’s first preseason game on Saturday, August 12, against the Buffalo Bills. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report the news.
Gardner Minshew will take second-team reps, which often come after the first quarter this early in the preseason. The quarterback competition is still ongoing, but Richardson wasn’t drafted to sit around and develop.
Interesting: #Colts coach Shane Steichen announced that rookie QB Anthony Richardson will start their preseason game Saturday vs the #Bills.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 10, 2023
Richardson’s first taste of NFL ball, even if it is preseason, should come against some of his former teammates. The Bills have drafted cornerback Kaiir Elam, right guard O’Cyrus Torrence and wide receiver Justin Shorter over the past two seasons. Richardson could challenge Elam on a deep route if both are getting first-team reps as expected.
All eyes will be on Richardson Saturday. It’s his first full-speed action at the NFL level, and any quarterback drafted fourth overall is going to be microanalyzed. Gators fans are hoping he puts on a show.
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