INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson has taken the final snap of his rookie season, opting for season-ending surgery on his injured throwing shoulder.
Coach Shane Steichen confirmed the decision before Wednesday’s practice.
Steichen said the team consulted multiple medical officials, weighed the long-term health of Richardson and his future with the franchise before everyone agreed surgery was the best option. Steichen did not say when the surgery would take place.
“I thought when he played, he was explosive and he was electric,” Steichen said. “He gives us an opportunity every time he steps on the field — just his big-play ability, throwing the ball downfield, the runs he had, the touchdown runs. There is tremendous opportunity going forward.”
Those runs also made him susceptible to injuries, though.
The 6-foot-4, 244-pound Richardson suffered a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder at the end of a short run Oct. 8 against Tennessee. He hit the ground awkwardly, stayed down several minutes as medical staff treated him before he walked slowly to the team’s medical tent, his shoulder drooped.
Last week, Indy put Richardson on injured reserve as the debate over treatment continued.
Richardson also sat out the final minute of the season opener with a bruised knee and sore ankle and missed six more quarters after entering the concussion protocol during the first half of a Week 2 game at Houston. He only finished one of four starts.
JAGUARS: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is listed as questionable for Thursday night’s game at New Orleans, and Jacksonville signed third-stringer Nathan Rourke from the practice squad to the active roster.
Lawrence was limited in practice for the second consecutive day Wednesday. He expressed optimism Tuesday about playing, but also said he needs to consider the best long-term plan for his sprained left knee and the team’s success.
Lawrence has started every game during his three professional seasons and last missed a game during his final collegiate year at Clemson, when he sat out consecutive games because of a neck injury and then COVID-19 protocols.
If Lawrence doesn’t play, backup C.J. Beathard would make his first start since the 2020 regular-season finale with San Francisco.
CARDINALS: Quarterback Kyler Murray has been designated to return from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and Arizona can activate him to the 53-man roster at any time during the next 21 days or at the conclusion of the three-week period.
Murray got hurt against the New England Patriots on Dec. 12 – a little more than 10 months ago. He was flushed out of the pocket and running to his right when he tried to fake out a defender, but tumbled to the grass in obvious pain.
DOLPHINS: All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, in an offseason trade with the Los Angeles Rams, practiced Wednesday for the first time since suffering a knee injury early in training camp.
Coach Mike McDaniel said Ramsey will not take the field when Miami faces Philadelphia on Sunday night as the team eases him back into action. Ramsey has missed the first six games of the season after undergoing surgery in July to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Early reports estimated that he would be sidelined until at least December, but Ramsey vowed that he would beat any suggested timeline for return.
ROGER GOODELL, commissioner of the NFL, received his long-expected contract extension on Wednesday for three years, through March 2027. A person familiar with the details told The Associated Press that Goodell’s deal includes clauses for extension or succession.
Financial terms of Goodell’s new contract weren’t immediately known. He reportedly earned $63.9 million for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. The 64-year-old Goodell has served as commissioner since succeeding Paul Tagliabue in 2006. He began his NFL career as an administrative intern in 1982 under then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle.
BROWNS: Deshaun Watson’s return is either imminent, a day or two away or not happening for another few weeks. Nothing is certain at the moment with Cleveland’s $230 million starting quarterback.
Dealing with a “tricky” injury he described as a strain – and not a bruise as previously reported by the team – to the rotator cuff in his right shoulder, Watson, who has already missed two games, said Wednesday he doesn’t know when he’ll be back.
“It can be any day,” Watson said. “I can’t put a timeline on anything right now.”
Watson didn’t practice Wednesday – he hasn’t since Sept. 29 – as the Browns (3-2) ramped up preparations for Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts (3-3).
TRADE: The New York Jets are trading seldom-used wide receiver Mecole Hardman back to Kansas City, where he was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams. The Jets also are sending a seventh-round pick in the 2024 draft to the Chiefs and getting a sixth-rounder in return, according to sources.
The 25-year-old Hardman became a free agent last offseason and signed a $4 million contract with the Jets, who hoped that he could incorporate his speed and versatility into their offense. The deal included a $2.5 million signing bonus and $3.6 million in guarantees.
STEELERS: Diontae Johnson’s right hamstring is on the mend and the Pittsburgh wide receiver is hopeful his return can help an offense that’s at times looked lost without him.
Johnson practiced on Wednesday, his first full practice since tweaking the hamstring in a season-opening loss to San Francisco on Sept. 10. While Johnson remains on injured reserve, he’s optimistic he’ll be ready by Sunday when Pittsburgh (3-2) travels to face the Rams (3-3).
Stressing he’s “doing anything I can to be ready,” Johnson is hopeful he can help provide a spark to an offense that is near the bottom of the NFL in most major categories, including scoring (30th), total yards (30th) and yards passing (27th).
GIANTS: QB Daniel Jones practiced for the first time since hurting his neck at Miami, but his status for this weekend’s game against Washington remains uncertain because he has not been cleared for contact.
Jones threw with the other quarterbacks during individual workouts, but Tyrod Taylor, who started in last week’s 14-9 loss the Bills, handled the snaps as the Giants (1-5) started preparing to host the Commanders (3-3) on Sunday.
Coach Brian Daboll listed Jones as limited on his lengthy injury report.
Jones, who signed a four-year, $160 million contract in March, said he has been throwing for a couple of days and has felt good. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 draft said his neck is feeling better but he has not been cleared by the medical staff for contact.
Jones confirmed there was pain in the left shoulder and neck after he was hurt on a sack in the fourth quarter against the Dolphins. He said he is close to being symptom-free.
The concern would be returning too early and aggravating the injury.
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