Before I get to the main topic of this column, I guess I should admit that I was wrong. On Saturday, Oct. 7, it was announced that the Colts and Jonathan Taylor agreed on a three-year contract extension.
I wrote last week that his return would be the end of the Colts’ season. So yeah, I was probably wrong. But while Hoosiers celebrated No. 28’s return on Sunday, another running back had a career day. I’ll get to that in a bit.
With that, here are four takeaways from the Colts’ 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans.
Anthony Richardson is hurt… again
I like Anthony Richardson. He seems like a cool guy and has incredible talent when it comes to football. But his health is starting to worry me.
Multiple fans have pointed out that his injuries have been on “unlucky” plays. Yet, if he can’t handle normal tackles, what happens when he gets drilled while being on the run?
I thought our days of worrying about our quarterback were over. I thought the days of holding my breath when the Colts’ offensive leader hit the turf were over. However, it feels like Andrew Luck all over again.
Most readers will probably think I’m overeating, but let’s look at this realistically. Anthony Richardson has gotten hurt in three of his first five games. If he can't handle the first five weeks of his first season, what does that say about his career?
With the injury being an AC joint sprain, that could mean many things. He could be out two weeks or he could be out a month.
Gardner Minshew might be the hero that the Colts need, even if he’s not the one that most fans want
While I know this is Richardson’s team, I think that fact is downplaying Indy’s backup man. Minshew has been on fire when the Colts’ have relied on him. He went 11-for-14 for 155 passing yards in the win.
This is why I believe the Colts should give Richardson some time. If he can come back in two weeks, make it three. If it’s five weeks, let him sit for six. The future quarterback of the Colts needs to be completely healthy before he steps on the field.
Once again, I want to make this clear. Richardson is the Colts’ quarterback. There is no question. However, fans of the horseshoe should be grateful that we have Minshew to fill in while Richardson is recovering.
Zack Moss outshined Jonathan Taylor’s return
The Colts’ run game has been something that has been a concern with Taylor missing the first four weeks of the season. While Moss has had some nice plays here and there, it hasn’t been anything special.
Then Sunday happened.
Moss looked like Barry Sanders as he bulldozed through the Titan defense and gave the Colts multiple opportunities to harm their division opponents. He finished the game with 165 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
As I watched, I kept thinking that Taylor would have a run like Moss had multiple times. However, Colts’ head coach Shane Steichen let Moss take the reins. Who could blame him? When someone has a hot hand, especially in the National Football League (NFL), you give them the football.
While this performance could have been a fluke, I feel better that the Colts have two running backs that can turn up the heat when needed.
The Colts sit in first place of the AFC South
With the win, the Colts lead the AFC South by one game. Earlier in the season, I said that this success would not last. Yet, they haven't stopped. While I know this team is not a Super Bowl contender, maybe they can make the playoffs.
Even if they were to make the postseason and fall in their first game, it’s a win for the Horseshoe. The last few seasons have been ones that many fans want to forget, myself included. However, this year feels different.
But hey, we're only at week six.
Contact Zach Carter with comments at zachary.carter@bsu.edu or on X @ZachCarter85.
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