As many players before Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson can attest, weight changes can be a player’s biggest upgrade or downgrade between seasons. While Tua Tagovailoa has raised concerns about his body changes, Richardson has generated laughs when discussing his own.
According to The Cold Wire, Richardson seemed to have put on about five pounds this offseason. Speaking about it on “The Pat McAfee Show” via Noah Compton, Richardson revealed he didn’t have a deep plan behind his weight changes.
“Nah not really, just me being big,” he said.
Richardson’s candid response was met with some chuckles by those on the set of the show.
The candid response flies in the face of what most NFL players say. When asked about their weight, most players offer a deep explanation. They explain how the added weight protects against injuries, helps them stay on their feet, and other reasons.
When they lose weight, players often claim that the loss was done to get quicker and jerkier with their movements. However, in Richardson’s case, it was just him “being big.” Some point to being just a person in the United States with plenty of opportunities to slip into a weight-gaining diet.
Anthony Richardson stares down potential make-or-break season
In the NFL, analysts cast judgments usually by the end of a quarterback’s second season. As such, with Richardson’s first season with the Colts ending early due to injury, a lot of pressure has fallen on 2024. The biggest question surrounding the quarterback is whether he can get through a year in the NFL.
If Richardson can prove he can stay healthy, it will be easier to rationalize a chance in 2025, no matter the outcome. However, if he gets hurt this season once again, fans will have a deafening volume of questions about his longevity with the team.
According to Pro Football Reference, what he did put on tape showed plenty of promise.
In four games of action, he went 2-2 and threw for three touchdowns and one interception. If he can stay healthy and maintain that ratio of production this season, he has the potential to steal the C.J Stroud-sized spotlight.
With the two quarterbacks sharing the same division following CJ Stroud’s breakout last season, the bar is much higher now in the division than it was heading into last year.
In addition to Stroud, Trevor Lawrence has proven that he can pop at times in his career as well. At this point, Levis and Richardson sit in a similar race. The two quarterbacks who missed much of their rookie seasons with plenty to prove in 2024.
Could Anthony Richardson steal the spotlight in the division in 2024 for the Indianapolis Colts? We’ll just have to wait and see.
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