Anthony Richardson might not be able to play the rest of the season after fracturing his orbital bone in a freak accident in pregame warmups ahead of Week 6's matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. The Indianapolis Colts' backup quarterback required surgery and was placed on injured reserve.
But there is a chance that Richardson might never play another down with Indy, at least according to Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon. As part of an article naming bold trades that could happen at the November 4th deadline, Richardson will be shipped to a team that Indianapolis played earlier this season.
That team is the Las Vegas Raiders, and Gagnon's idea would make sense. Richardson has said all the right words since Daniel Jones was named QB1 ahead of the season. Jones has been terrific so far this season, while Richardson only played in mop-up duty. Still, Richardson was unlucky enough to get injured again anyway.
NFL analyst projects the Indianapolis Colts to trade Anthony Richardson to the Raiders
In other words, Anthony Richardson is unlikely to be in the Colts' long-term plans. Jones needs to be signed to an extension, and that relegates AR5 to a long-term backup. He is only 23 years old, and he probably would love another chance to start somewhere soon. That won't happen in Indy.
The Raiders make sense as a landing spot because while they traded for Geno Smith this past offseason, he has been brutal in the first half of this season. He leads the NFL in interceptions with 10, and leads the league in interceptions since the start of the 2024 season.
Vegas did sign Smith to an extension, but if Smith were released next offseason, the Raiders would still save $8 million and $39 million in 2027. At 35 years old, he is obviously closer to the end of his career than Richardson, and that end could come next year. Richardson would likely have a chance to start with Las Vegas, even if Smith sticks around for another year.
Gagnon projects that the Indianapolis Colts would receive cornerback Eric Stokes in return for Anthony Richardson and a mid-round draft pick. Stokes isn't going to create turnovers (he has one interception in five NFL seasons), but he is decent in coverage.
He would at least give defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo another option at cornerback. The group has been decimated by injuries this season. Stokes is good enough to have around for at least half a season.