NFL News: Rookie QB Anthony Richardson sparks Colts’ 27-13 win over Eagles

In the NFL preseason finale last Thursday, Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson showed promise and areas for improvement as they secured a 27-13 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick out of Florida, completed 6 of 17 passes for 78 yards. He also carried the ball five times for 38 yards in the first half.

“I thought he did a solid job,” Colts coach Shane Steichen said. “He did some really good things and some things we have to clean up as well.”

Steichen previously played a role in transforming Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts from a second-round pick with uncertainties into an elite NFL quarterback during the past two seasons as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator. He will now undertake a similar task with Richardson in Indianapolis.

Room for growth

During the Colts’ fourth drive (2-1), Richardson displayed moments of excellence by connecting with Kylen Granson for a 17-yard gain in heavy traffic. Additionally, Richardson evaded sacks on two occasions later in the drive. However, he struggled with accuracy in the first half.

“I did see a couple of missed throws, a couple of drops from the team,” Richardson said. “We’re going to continue to build on it. Keep taking shots. Try to find ways to click on all cylinders.”

Furthermore, Richardson stirred up Eagles fans with a touchdown celebration, mimicking a bird by flapping his arms. However, he clarified that he was “just having fun” and hoped nobody misinterpreted his actions.

Despite Richardson stealing the show, the Colts remained without star running back Jonathan Taylor. He is currently engaged in contract negotiations with the team. Although Taylor traveled with the team to Philadelphia, he has been sidelined due to off-season ankle surgery. He is also currently placed on the physically unable to perform list following a season where he missed six games due to injury.

The Colts will kick off their regular season on September 10 with a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Eagles without starters

On the other side of the field, no Philadelphia starters, including Hurts, played in the game. Instead, backup quarterback Marcus Mariota completed 1 of 2 passes for 21 yards in a single series.

The Eagles believed they had bolstered their backup quarterback position with the offseason signing of Mariota. However, the former No. 2 overall pick faced difficulties in the club’s second preseason game against the Cleveland Browns.

Like his performance against the Browns, Mariota’s initial pass against the Colts was high. Nevertheless, he found precision in his second attempt, connecting with Deon Cain for a 21-yard completion during Philadelphia’s opening scoring drive, which concluded with Trey Sermon’s 1-yard TD run.

Mariota’s preseason came to a close after this. He tallied 17 completions on 30 attempts for 164 yards, with one interception and enduring four sacks. Meanwhile, rookie sixth-round selection Tanner McKee, the third quarterback for Philadelphia, completed 19 of 34 passes for 158 yards.

Unlike Mariota and McKee, many players featured for the Eagles on Thursday are unlikely to secure a spot on the final 53-man roster, which must be decided by Tuesday.

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni mentioned that the roster decisions are more challenging for the players receiving the news. He emphasized that many of these individuals have played significant roles in shaping the Philadelphia Eagles’ culture over the past four months. Sirianni acknowledged the presence of exceptional talents in the locker room but said that not all of them will continue into the 2023 season.