Anthony Richardson told reporters Wednesday that he has been dealing with a lower back issue that could be “chronic” after he was recently forced him to crawl around his home.
However, the Colts quarterback didn’t appear too worried about it as he said ‘there’s plenty of ways to prevent it” going forward.
Richardson, 22, remains a question mark for the Colts’ season finale on Sunday against the Jaguars after missing Indianapolis’ Week 17 loss to the Giants because of back and foot issues.
Richardson revealed that he was in so much pain last week that he was having issues standing and walking.
“Last week was tough. I couldn’t even stand up on Tuesday, could barely even walk, crawling around the house,” Richardson said. “But I’m here. I’m standing now. If I can do everything in my power to get on the field, I’mma do so. That was my mindset last week as well, but I could barely move.”
Richardson was listed as a “DNP” on the Colts injury report on Wednesday.
The team did not practice but instead had a walkthrough.
The second-year quarterback has missed 16 games in his first two seasons in the NFL because of a variety of issues including shoulder, oblique and back injuries, along with a concussion.
In terms of the most recent issue, Richardson explained that an MRI exam revealed it to be a “disc thing that’s been there for a while” and he believes that it must have gotten “triggered the wrong way.”
Richardson also indicated that he’s been dealing with back spasms, which Colts coach Shane Steichen described the issue as after the loss to the Giants.
The signal-caller, who said he has been battling back spasms since the eighth grade, said he doesn’t think he will need surgery to address the issue.
“It might be chronic, but there’s plenty of ways to prevent it going on in the future,” Richardson said. “Now that I know what it is, I can find certain ways to stay out of certain positions and just make sure I’m healthy, 100 percent.”
Richardson, who was the Colts’ fourth overall pick in 2023, is 6-5 this season as the starter for the Colts and has thrown for 1,814 and eight touchdowns with 12 interceptions.
Indianapolis was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss to the Giants.
