**Anthony Richardson Sidelined from Colts Minicamp Due to Shoulder Injury**

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has been diagnosed with a shoulder injury, the team confirmed on Thursday. This setback will force Richardson to sit out the team's upcoming minicamp.

Entering his third season, Richardson is currently in a heated competition with former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones for the starting role. Richardson's career has been marred by injuries, having missed all but four games in his rookie season. His second season saw sporadic playtime, culminating in a 6-5 record. Despite showing moments of promise, Richardson ended the season with a disappointing ratio of 12 interceptions to eight touchdowns, completing just 47.7 percent of his passes over 1,814 yards.

Meanwhile, Jones, who was released by the Giants after six seasons, experienced his own difficulties during the 2024 campaign. Colts general manager Chris Ballard noted in April that he believes both Richardson and Jones have learned valuable lessons from their struggles. "Sometimes you've got to be bad before you can be good at playing this game," Ballard told NFL.com. He added that both quarterbacks would ultimately be better for it, and that the team stands to benefit from the ensuing competition.

Richardson initially secured the starting job over Gardner Minshew in 2023 and has spoken about his focus on becoming more consistent and making more accurate throws even when under pressure. The ability to demonstrate these improvements during training camp and preseason is crucial for the coaching staff, including head coach Shane Steichen and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter, to make an informed decision about the team's starting quarterback for the season opener against the Miami Dolphins on September 7.

Given Richardson's current injury, Jones appears to have a significant opportunity to edge ahead in the competition for the starting job. For now, the Colts will be closely monitoring Richardson's recovery as he aims to return to the field and compete for the QB1 position.