3 players that propelled the Colts to their first victory of the 2023 season

Sunday was a bittersweet day for the Indianapolis Colts. Indy got its first win of the season, defeating the Houston Texans 31-20. Unfortunately, rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson left the game early in the second quarter with a concussion. He’s now in concussion protocol as the Colts turn their attention to the Week 3 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

Before moving on to Week 3, Indianapolis will celebrate the comprehensive Week 2 win. It’s been a while since Indy won a game comfortably, especially against Houston. Last season, Indy had a draw and a last-second thriller with the Texans. With both teams seemingly rebuilding this season, the Colts showed that their rebuild is further along.

While the win on Sunday was a full team effort, there were certainly a few players that stood out for Indy. Let’s take a look at three players that helped the Colts get their first victory.

3. Gardner Minshew was the perfect backup

No one wanted to see Gardner Minshew play in a game this year, unless it was as a reserve once Indy secured a huge lead. It’s nothing against Minshew, he’s a fan favorite, but the Colts have handed the keys to Anthony Richardson at quarterback. That means Minshew being on the field is likely a sign of something going wrong.

Well, something did go wrong on Sunday. Anthony Richardson left the game with a concussion. This forced Gardner Minshew into the game early in the second quarter. He inherited a 14-7 lead, and quickly built on it, as the offense didn’t seem to miss much of a beat with Minshew at quarterback.

On his first drive, he led the Colts on a six-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Indy did things differently with Minshew, not relying on the quarterback run, but Minshew made all the right passes. He finished the game with 19 completions on 23 attempts for 171 yards and one touchdown. It’s great to know that Richardson can step in if necessary, but the hope is that he doesn’t have to do it often.