Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. suffered a dislocated pinkie finger injury during Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. The injury occurred when linebacker David Ojabo sacked Richardson with 7:33 left in the first quarter.
Richardson, who was competing for the starting quarterback position alongside veteran Daniel Jones, had completed two of his first three passes before the injury. However, he was forced to exit the game after popping his pinkie finger back into place.
According to Richardson, he initially thought he might be tripping when he saw his finger in a different direction. However, after re-examining it, he confirmed that it was indeed dislocated. Richardson indicated that there was swelling and some tenderness, but he expected the pain to subside with rest.
The injury is a significant setback for Richardson, who had been building momentum during training camp and Tuesday’s joint practice against the Ravens. Coach Shane Steichen planned to evaluate Richardson alongside Jones in the first half of Thursday’s game, but the injury has left Steichen uncertain about his playing time next week.
Steichen acknowledged that Richardson should have been more aware of the possibility of the blitzing linebacker Ojabo, who was part of a five-man protection scheme with no tight end or running back to block. However, Richardson expressed confidence in his ability to react and protect himself against future blitzes.
The injury also has significant implications for the Colts’ cornerback unit, which lost third-round pick Justin Walley due to a torn ACL suffered during Tuesday’s practice. Walley was expected to be the team’s third cornerback, but his injury has left the unit thin and vulnerable.
As Richardson begins the process of recovering from his injury, he will need to demonstrate his ability to play through pain and discomfort while maintaining his performance level. With Jones still competing for the starting quarterback position, the competition between the two quarterbacks is far from over.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45922859/colts-anthony-richardson-departs-preseason-tilt-vs-ravens