Who is Anthony Richardson
Anthony Richardson is the young quarterback for Indianapolis Colts in the NFL. He was selected as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Over his first two seasons, he showed flashes of high athletic upside, combining passing and rushing ability.
In 2025, Richardson began the season as backup — after losing the starting job to Daniel Jones — but was still considered a key part of the team’s quarterback depth.
What Happened: The Eye / Orbital Injury
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On October 12, 2025, during pregame warmups before a game against the Arizona Cardinals, Richardson was doing a routine stretch using an elastic resistance band.
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The band was anchored to a pole — but the pole snapped. The snapped pole struck him in the face, causing a serious injury to the bone around his eye.
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Specifically, he suffered a fractured orbital bone (eye-socket fracture), with significant swelling that temporarily impaired his vision.
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Despite the severity of the trauma, medical staff confirmed that there was no damage to the eyeball itself — the injury was to the bone around the eye.
Immediately after the accident, Richardson was rushed to the hospital; he was declared inactive for the game and later placed on injured reserve (IR).
Current Update: Recovery & Status
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As of early December 2025, Richardson remains on IR and has not yet been cleared for return to full football activities.
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Recent reports — including comments from Colts head coach Shane Steichen — suggest that Richardson is doing better. The swelling has subsided enough that blurriness in his eye is improving.
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Richardson has resumed limited activity: he is doing some weight-room work, has returned to the team facility more regularly, and even attended a Colts game recently.
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That said, he is still not cleared for contact or game action — no official timeframe has been given for when he might return to the field.
What This Means: Outlook for Richardson & Colts
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The injury was a bizarre, freak accident — not a football hit or on-field trauma. This underscores how even non-contact routines can pose risk.
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For Richardson, avoiding lasting eye damage is a relief; doctors seem confident his eyeball is fine despite the orbital fracture.
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The bigger concern remains his overall durability. Between this injury, previous setbacks, and now healing time, his availability — a vital trait for a quarterback — has taken a hit.
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For the Colts, his absence means reliance on Daniel Jones as starter and Riley Leonard as backup for the time being. The team may reconsider roster depth if Richardson isn’t ready soon.
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If Richardson recovers fully and regains vision with no complications, a return this season remains possible — but it will depend on medical clearance and how he responds to resumed training.
Recent Coverage & Fan Reactions
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Media reports describe the incident as a “freak elastic-band accident,” noting how unexpected and unusual it was — especially given it happened during a simple warmup.
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In fan communities and forums, many have expressed sympathy:
“He got smacked in the face with a bar under pressure from an exercise band hard enough to break his orbital bone.”
Some fans called the injury “an outlier” — a freak accident unlikely to repeat — while others voiced concern about his future health and reliability. -
Others pointed out how unlucky the timing was — just when the season was underway and depth chart matters were in flux.
Conclusion: Eye-Injury Woes, But Recovery Hopes Remain
Anthony Richardson’s career has hit another rough patch — this time not from a tackle or game action, but a freak warm-up accident. The orbital fracture, hospital visit, and placement on IR mark another setback for the talented, yet injury-prone quarterback. However, signs are encouraging: swelling is decreasing, vision is reportedly returning, and Richardson has begun light activity with the team.
Whether he returns this season depends on his full medical clearance and how well his eye healing progresses. If all goes well, he could still reclaim a role — but health and consistency will be under close scrutiny for the rest of 2025.
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