Colts owner Irsay: Richardson 'has to play to get better'

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is looking for first-round quarterback Anthony Richardson to play early and often in order to get better.

"As you guys know, Peyton (Manning)'s year, we were 3-13, the first year," Irsay said on "The Pat McAfee Show" on Monday. "That's a guy who played a lot of college games and was really prepared as much as he could be for the league. So, for Anthony Richardson, it's going to be tough. We know that. But he has to play to get better. I mean, there's no question. Gardner (Minshew) could come out and play better early on, him just being a veteran, but we have to get Anthony on the field. And that's (head coach) Shane (Steichen)'s call when he decides to do it."

The Colts selected Richardson with the No. 4 pick in this year's draft after the 21-year-old appeared in 22 contests at Florida. In his lone season as a starter, Richardson threw for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions to go along with nine touchdowns and 654 yards on the ground.

While inexperienced, Richardson is one of the rarest athletes the NFL has ever seen at quarterback, earning a 10.00 RAS. His arm is exceptionally strong, he runs a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, and he has the requisite frame to make the most of these gifts if he develops as the Colts hope.

Richardson gives the club a young signal-caller to build around for the first time in years. Indianapolis has churned through veteran quarterbacks since Andrew Luck's retirement in 2019, starting the likes of Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan.

The Colts open their season with a home matchup against the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars, one of Minshew's former teams.