Former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has been retired for five years now and the team has done everything in their power to find a suitable replacement for him in that span. This week he gave his thoughts on quarterback Anthony Richardson, who the team designated as their quarterback of the future last season.
Appearing at a recent event at the Colts facility, Luck spoke glowingly of Richardson, said that the former No. 4 overall pick has the support system and is dynamic enough to be a player that “fans around the country can be proud of.”
“He’s certainly not a kid. That guy’s out there playing quarterback in the NFL, and that’s hard. It’s really hard,” Luck said, via IndyStar.com. “I think he has the approach, he’s got the support system to be a real success in this league and to be a real dynamic player that Colts fans can be proud of and that fans around the country can be proud of.”
Richardson certainly showed flashes that he could be great in his abbreviated rookie season. Prior to suffering a season-ending injury in Week 5, he was completing just under 60-percent of his passes and had scored a rushing touchdown in each of his first three games.
Despite losing Richardson, the Colts go Pro Bowl-caliber play form backup Gardner Minshew and nearly made the playoffs in his absence, finishing the season with a 9-8 record.
If Richardson is back on schedule and able to develop well next season, they could be a major force – perhaps the best they’ve been since Luck was in his prime and healthy.