After suffering a season-ending injury in 2023, one young starting quarterback in the AFC South could be starting his season on the bench once again.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is not at the team’s mandatory minicamp due to an injury to his throwing shoulder.

It’s the same shoulder that Richardson hurt in his rookie NFL campaign that ended his season in Week 5.

Considering this is a re-injury, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer says the Colts are taking extra precautions with Richardson as the third-year gunslinger out of Florida weighs his options. 

‘It was the second day of OTAs that they shut him down, he’s gonna go visit with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, I believe that’s gonna happen this week, to go and get it checked out,’ Breer told The Rich Eisen Show, adding that ElAttrache ‘was the one who did the surgery initially.’

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is pursuing further medical opinions after injuring his throwing shoulder – which will keep him out of the team’s mandatory minicamp

It’s an injury to the same shoulder Richardson hurt in his rookie season back in 2023

Breer believes that with this injury to Richardson, Daniel Jones is Indy’s likely Week 1 starter

‘When you’re talking about the soreness coming back in the shoulder and “no he hasn’t had surgery yet, but he’s gonna have more opinions on it,” it just gets you worried.

‘I would say I take both of them very seriously, because anything to do with a quarterback’s throwing shoulder, elbow, wrist, whatever is serious. 

‘But when it’s like a repeat thing, that’s where it’s like “oh boy”.’

With Richardson likely to be starting on the bench, Breer says there is a ‘really good chance Daniel Jones is gonna be the starting quarterback for the Colts Week 1 and Anthony Richardson faces a lot of uncertainty going forward.’

It’s a very concerning development for the longevity of his career – especially considering his first two seasons didn’t end particularly well.

After suffering that career-ending injury in his rookie season, his 2024 campaign featured stops and starts.

Richardson began as the starter in the first few weeks before an oblique injury sidelined him in Weeks 5 and 6. Then, in Week 8, he capped off a poor performance against the Houston Texans by voluntarily taking himself out in the third quarter for a play because he ‘needed a breather’.

As a result, Richardson was benched for two weeks in favor of Joe Flacco. After Flacco struggled, Richardson returned for the rest of the season.

Now, with this injury, it’s not clear what future Richardson may have with the Colts – especially if he doesn’t play this season.