Colts’ Richardson sustains orbital fracture in tools mishap

INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts had been going about their typical Sunday morning routines forward of their 1 p.m. ET kickoff towards the Arizona Cardinals when a seemingly regular day grew to become something however routine.

Backup quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., earlier than even leaving the locker room, sustained a weird damage whereas utilizing elastic bands to stretch for the sport. The incident left Richardson with an orbital fracture, in accordance with coach Shane Steichen, and required hospitalization. A supply advised ESPN that Richardson was additionally anticipated to want stitches.

The specifics had been murky, however the supply mentioned the incident occurred when an equipment gamers use to connect the warmup bands to malfunctioned, leading to an affect with Richardson’s face. Richardson was inactive for the 31-27 victory over Arizona and will miss extra time. No. 3 quarterback Riley Leonard is the first backup “proper now,” Steichen mentioned.

“It was type of a whirlwind,” quarterback Daniel Jones mentioned.

All that was compounded by one other pregame scenario some time later when No. 1 cornerback Charvarius Ward accidently collided with tight finish Drew Ogletree throughout on-field warmups, leaving Ward concussed and unable to play. Ward, who was backpedaling on the time of the high-speed collision, remained on the bottom for a while earlier than returning to the locker room with help.

“There was one thing within the air immediately,” operating again Jonathan Taylor mentioned afterward.

The pregame mishaps left the Colts unsettled, with gamers involved for his or her teammates. With kickoff approaching, Steichen and group leaders realized the necessity to regroup as shortly as potential.

“It was a bizarre day, I will not misinform you,” linebacker Zaire Franklin mentioned. “Shedding two guys that you just rely upon. Anthony, we rely on him in a pinch. And clearly, [Ward], dropping these guys pregame was robust. It obtained to a sure level the place, within the locker room, you see guys simply whispering about what occurred to the purpose the place you are like, ‘Hey, we have got a job to do.’

“I really feel like myself, Shane, Quenton [Nelson], [DeForest Buckner], did a superb job of getting guys again centered. It is like, ‘Hear, it is tousled. We’re praying for Anthony. We’re praying for [Ward]. However on the identical time, we have got to lock in and care for what we have now to care for.’ And fortunately, we had been capable of rally and get a win immediately.”

The Colts moved to 5-1 with the victory, changing into the primary group this season to attain greater than 23 factors towards an Arizona protection that was fourth in scoring protection coming into Week 4.

However the problem was important. The moments after the Richardson damage had been significantly scary, teammates mentioned.

“I did not see the precise factor that occurred,” receiver Josh Downs mentioned. “However I did see him over there and everybody gathered round him. We prayed for him. We type of paused. All people was preparing [for the game] however all people simply came to visit and huddled round him. It was a wild pregame.”

In the meantime, the Ward damage left the Colts additional depleted within the secondary, the place they already had been short-handed coming into the sport. His absence pressed undrafted rookie Johnathan Edwards into motion in his first in depth taking part in time. Edwards performed 68 snaps after taking part in a career-high 17 in Week 5. The younger secondary pressured security Cam Bynum to do some on-field teaching, he mentioned, as a result of that is what the scenario required.

“We needed to double and triple verify each single little factor,” Bynum mentioned. “And that is how it’s whenever you’re taking part in with youthful guys that have not seen as a lot taking part in time. You wish to make them really feel assured.”