Anthony Richardson is back to practicing with the Indianapolis Colts. He looks the part of a starting quarterback in the NFL. He is 6'4" and 245 pounds and strong. The hope is that he will one day translate his raw physical skill into being a productive QB1 for Indy.
That much is key. While he has often been injured and inefficient during his seasons with Indy, he has lived his life as a quarterback. Implying he should be anything else feels, well...icky. Sure, some QBs have transitioned to wide receiver or tight end, but were any of those the fourth overall choices in an NFL draft?
Richardson is a quarterback, and he is going to stay that way. So, when one reporter, among many meeting with AR5 at his locker ahead of his first day of practice since breaking his orbital bone ahead of Week 6, suggested that Richardson could potentially transition to a different position, the quarterback's class showed through.
Colts' Anthony Richardson proves to be all class in answering reporter's silly question
The question asked was, "If you are not able to play quarterback with the vision (issues), you're 6'4", 240, and exceptionally fast, would you be open to changing positions...is that an option?"
To be fair, the question was unfair to ask. The decision to change positions, assuming Richardson would be open to it, would not be his; It would be up to the team. However, the quarterback answered that he was forced into a corner. There is no need for him to change positions, especially as doctors expect his eye to return to full health.
Thankfully, Anthony Richardson proved he was all class by giving a small laugh and saying, "The doctors told me I'd be good playing quarterback." He also said he had never thought about playing anything other than quarterback.
Good for him. Lots of players might have (and likely rightfully) reacted angrily. An injury shouldn't mean that a player who has spent his entire life, and is deemed worthy of being chosen high in the NFL draft, playing one spot would have to move to another in which he has never played. Inefficiency? Maybe. An injury? No.
That is especially true for a person who is only 23 years old and might still become a quality quarterback in the NFL. It might also be fair to ask the reporter if he would have had the same query for a white quarterback whose first three years have not gone as planned.
At some point, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson deserves better luck. He needs to stay healthy and prove he can run head coach Shane Steichen's system, but he has an elite arm and is very mobile. He will make his bones as a quarterback, and the eye injury would make him change positions. After all, a player needs to be able to see well no matter which spot they play.