Colts QB Anthony Richardson set to miss mandatory minicamp due to AC joint injury to throwing shoulder

The Colts fans have received a concerning update on the health of quarterback Anthony Richardson.

The 22-year-old signal-caller is dealing with an AC joint issue in his throwing shoulder, an area he had surgically repaired during his rookie campaign, and will now miss next week's mandatory minicamp, per head coach Shane Steichen.

Richardson had been splitting first-team snaps with offseason addition Daniel Jones, as both vie for pole position under center heading into 2025.

After two turbulent seasons marked by injuries and inconsistency, this year is shaping up as make-or-break for Richardson in Indianapolis.

He's under pressure to finally cement himself as the franchise's future or risk being pushed out of the conversation entirely by next offseason.

With eyes firmly fixed on this quarterback battle, even a short spell on the sidelines could dent Richardson's momentum at a time when he can least afford it.

Here's some of the quick reaction from the NFL world on the news:

Anthony Richardson has the tools around him in 2025 to finally make his case as the Colts' long-term answer at quarterback. With a deep backfield and a talented receiving corps at his disposal, the offensive arsenal is there. Even with veterans Ryan Kelly and Will Fries gone, the offensive line—on paper, still looks capable of holding the fort. But as always, the real test will come on the field.

The bigger question lies with Richardson himself. Once he's fully healthy, the pressure will be on him to show real growth, especially in terms of accuracy and decision-making. His sub-50% completion rate and 21 combined interceptions last year simply won't cut it. If those struggles continue, he'll be trending more toward a bust than a breakout. The pieces are there, it's up to Richardson to put them together. If he fails to do so, the Colts have an able deputy in Jones.