Colts QB Anthony Richardson makes official on-field return during OTAs

Shane Steichen announced the Colts will host the Arizona Cardinals for two joint-practices during training camp this summer at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind.

The Indianapolis Colts are in Phase 3 of the NFL voluntary offseason program and completed the first week of Organized Team Activities (OTA’s).

The Colts will finish the second week of OTA’s at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center next Friday. No live contact is permitted during OTA’s as players compete in team drills, including 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 sessions. Indianapolis’ nine-man draft class and undrafted free agents will complete a seven-week rookie football development program before mandatory minicamp, which is scheduled June 4-6.

In the third week of March, Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson began throwing further distances in long-toss sessions to progress the development of his repaired rifle of an arm. The 22-year-old celebrated his golden birthday on Wednesday and returned to on-field team activities. Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor never participated in on-field team drills during training camp last summer as he recovered from right ankle surgery and dealt with negotiating his three-year, $42 million contract. Taylor spent the first four weeks of the 2023 regular season on the PUP list and played just two snaps with Richardson before the rookie suffered a season-ending AC joint sprain.

If the dynamic duo can master the zone read, the threat to stretch the field or attack the boundary can be lethal. An unpredictable option creates an unstoppable force once the tailback manages to get in sync with the mind of Indianapolis’ franchise QB. Taylor understands when to expect the football or if the opposing edge rusher crashes down, Richardson can decide to pull. Perhaps the toughest split-second decision the second-year pro may face is playing cautiously or staying true to the talent that got him selected fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Richardson’s four rushing touchdowns led the league in the first five weeks of his rookie campaign.

The Colts face a front-loaded divisional schedule, so the first two months may give a realistic glimpse of where the team is before stacking wins against weaker opponents down the home stretch of the 2024 season. There were no expectations last season, coming off a miserable 4-12 record with a rookie QB. Colts head coach Shane Steichen set the standard and took the first step toward building the foundation of a winning culture. He is capable of pulling tricks up his sleeve pre-snap and forcing an opposing head coach to show his hand. Indianapolis’ front office backs Steichen’s confidence that Richardson will blossom into the dual-threat QB he showed flashes of through four games in 2023.

Steichen announced the Colts will host the Arizona Cardinals for two joint-practices during training camp this summer at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. Specific training camp dates have not been announced, but the Colts host the Cardinals for a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. Thousands of eyes will be locked in on Marvin Harrison Jr. — the Cardinals fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft — and how he fares against the Colts secondary.