INDIANAPOLIS – Anthony Richardson’s status for returning for the Indianapolis Colts regular season finale haven’t exactly improved.
The second-year quarterback did not practice Thursday because of back spasms, increasing the likelihood he’ll miss a 17th game because of injury – that’s half of his 34 career games – and Joe Flacco will start against the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Wednesday, Richardson said he was feeling “way better than last week’’ after missing last Sunday’s 45-33 loss to the New York Giants with back spasms that greatly impacted his mobility. He mentioned last week he “could barely even walk (and) was crawling around the house.’’
Richardson disclosed back spasms have bothered him since the eighth grade and added an MRI last Friday revealed “a disc thing.’’
“They said (the disc is) not that severe,’’ he said when asked whether surgery has been discussed.
It appears Richardson will miss a fourth game this season because of injury. He missed two with an oblique injury and now would miss two with the spasms/disc issue.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft missed one game with a concussion as a rookie then the final 12 after undergoing surgery on his right shoulder to repair a sprained AC joint.
“It’s a tough league,’’ Richardson said Wednesday. “You’ve got to be tough to go out there and play through injuries and fight through certain things.
“I try my best to do so when I can, and when I can’t, that’s just what it is.’’
He missed two full-scale practices last week along with a Wednesday walkthrough and whatever the team does on the day before a game. This week, he’s been held out of Wednesday’s walkthrough and Thursday’s practice.
2025 opponents almost set
While there’s unfinished business on Sunday, the Colts know the majority of the teams they’ll face in 2025 because of the NFL’s advanced scheduling format.
The rotation has Indy facing the NFC West and AFC West.
Home opponents: Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Arizona, San Francisco, Denver, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Miami.
Away opponents: Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle and Los Angeles Rams. The eighth road trip will be to the second-place team in the AFC North, either Pittsburgh or Baltimore.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.