According to CBS Sports Matt Zenitz, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has been medically cleared to practice after recovering the past several weeks from surgery for his fractured orbital bone:
Zenitz’s report was later confirmed by CBS4/FOX59’s Mike Chappell.
However, Chappell indicated that, “There’s no indication he’ll return for one of the Indianapolis Colts’ final three games.”
Richardson has been out since Week 6 (October 12th), when he fractured his eye socket during his pre-game training routine, when his medical band somehow snapped, suffering a freak accident for the already oft-injured young quarterback.
He had been eligible to return for a number of weeks since, but the Colts had yet to activate his 21-day window to return off of injured reserve because he wasn’t ready yet.
The Colts haven’t previously offered any clear timetable for Richardson’s potential 2025 return, if he returns at all, only recently providing an update that he was “progressing” last week by head coach Shane Steichen.
Upon Philip Rivers shocking return last week, Richardson could be seen at team practice, chatting with the since unretired longtime veteran quarterback and reportedly taking mental reps by himself on the field.
One could make the case that if fully healthy again, Richardson provides the Colts the best chance to win now, especially in light of Rivers’ clearly diminished arm strength on display this past Sunday on the road in Seattle.
That being said, whether Richardson would require some sort of ramp up throwing period for his surgically repaired shoulder to play in any of the Colts’ final three games of the 2025 regular season remains to be seen.
My guess is that the Colts will stay the course with Rivers, who assuredly came back to be the starter for the remainder of 2025 and guide Indy to the playoffs, for at least the team’s Monday Night Football Game at home against the San Francisco 49ers next week—and then take it from there.
Beyond that though, if the Colts’ playoff hopes are realistically already dashed, it would make more logical sense to turn the starting reins back over to Richardson, if he’s able to get back up to speed in time for either Indianapolis’ last two games or even the regular season home finale against Jacksonville.
