Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson suffered a concussion and was forced out of Sunday's matchup against the Houston Texans. Despite the setback, the Colts managed to secure a solid 31–20 victory on the road with Richardson scoring two rushing touchdowns before being ruled out.
This was the second consecutive week in which Richardson departed the field due to injury after he suffered a minor left knee injury in the season opener already into the fourth and final quarter.
The Week 2 concussion happened when Richardson scored his second rushing touchdown. He faked an end-around pass to rookie wide receiver Josh Downs and then took off with the ball. Arriving at the end zone, Richarson was hit by Texans safety M.J. Stewart. The impact sent Richardson's head snapping back, hitting the turf.
Initially, Richardson showed no immediate effects and rose to his feet to celebrate with his teammates. However, he subsequently went to the medical tent on the sideline and was eventually ruled out of the game due to a concussion after an evaluation.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Colts Head Coach Shane Steichen said that Richardson is "in the concussion protocol," while directing media members to the upcoming Injury Report to be released by the franchise next Wednesday, per James Boyd of The Athletic.
Anthony Richardson is in the concussion protocol, per #Colts HC Shane Steichen. No other update.
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) September 18, 2023
With Richardson sidelined, Gardner Minshew entered the game in relief, completing 19-of-23 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown. Richardson left the field with a couple of rushing touchdowns to go with 56 passing yards on a 6-of-10 day.
If Richardson misses Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens, seasoned veteran Gardner Minshew will have to step up to the plate for the Colts. Minshew has thrown 44 touchdown passes against 15 interceptions over his first five seasons in the league. Minshew already shared a locker room with Colts' head coach Steichen when they were together in Philadelphia before their joint arrival in Indianapolis earlier this year.
In the backfield, the absence of RB Jonathan Taylor, currently on Injured Reserve, has been notably damaging for the Colts' rushing game. In Week 1, the Colts' running backs struggled, mustering only 16 carries for a combined 25 yards.
With Taylor missing Week 2 and Zack Moss returning from injury (broken arm), the latter led the Colts' rushing efforts with 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown. Backup rusher Deon Jackson, who shouldered the starting role in Week 1 with Taylor and Moss out, had a lackluster performance with 13 carries for 14 yards and two fumbles in Week 1 before not seeing any action at all last Sunday against the Texans.
Looking ahead, DraftKings Sportsbook is placing the Colts (1-1) as 8-point underdogs on the road against the undefeated Baltimore Ravens (2-0).