Stephen Holder, ESPN
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Anthony Richardson fell prey to the some of the largest pitfalls of rookie quarterbacks on his 3rd cross struggle of his first preseason sport.
The Indianapolis Colts rookie and receiver Isaiah McKenzie had a miscommunication in Saturday’s preseason opener, for the purpose of Richardson’s cross being intercepted by means of Buffalo Bills cornerback Dane Jackson.
However what took place upcoming made as obese an impact because the giveover itself. Richardson settled in, engineering two long drives as he closed out the primary quarter of his NFL debut, a 23-19 Buffalo victory at Highmark Stadium.
“I thought he had great poise,” Colts tutor Shane Steichen stated. “I knew we had the early interception. That’s my fault. We’ve got to do a better job communicating on that one. … That starts with coaching, starts with myself. Other than that, I thought he was efficient.”
Richardson confronted various hindrances — penniless farmland place, consequences, a 28-yard neglected farmland function and a would-be 34-yard landing cross that used to be in the long run dropped — however he overcame all of them to finish 7-of-12 passes for 67 yards. The interception used to be essentially the most noteceable depression Richardson confronted, however his talent to secure his head despite it used to be remarkable.
Teammates, Richardson stated, “are looking at me to control the offense. So, I can’t be out there nervous. They’re looking at me in my eyes like they’re ready to play, so I have to be ready to play.”
The interception got here when the Expenses despatched a security blitz off the appropriate edge, resignation proper take on Blake Freeland with two rushers in his neighborhood. Richardson and McKenzie weren’t at the identical web page at the required adjustment on any such blitz, resignation Richardson with few choices. He pressured a throw rather of taking a sack or throwing the ball out of bounds, prominent to the interception.
“I have to try to find a way to manage it as best as possible instead of trying to be Superman,” Richardson stated.
However Richardson bounced again. The Colts didn’t ranking all through his while within the lineup, however what they did get used to be additional proof their rookie quarterback is supplied to take care of the placement in an NFL surrounding.
The Colts reached the Buffalo 40 at the upcoming pressure sooner than being crammed on a fourth ailing, after Richardson led a 77-yard pressure at the Colts’ 3rd ownership that ended with a neglected farmland function.
“You go out there and you have a s—-ty pick the first time out, but you come back from that and you recover from that,” middle Ryan Kelly stated of Richardson. “You go out there and just control the huddle, control the game and I thought he did a great job of that today.”
The upcoming step for Richardson remainder hazy. He’s nonetheless technically in a combat for the founding activity with Gardner Minshew, who performed with the second-team offense and used to be 6-for-6 for 72 yards on Saturday. The 2 quarterbacks were splitting reps in follow and Steichen stated he has now not determined which quarterback will get started upcoming generation’s preseason sport in opposition to the Chicago Bears.
However, Saturday used to be significant for Richardson, who walked onto the farmland sooner than the sport and, in a generation of solitude, attempted to soak up the chance in entrance of him.
“It’s was like, ‘Wow, I’m finally here. I finally made it on the big stage and the first NFL experience,'” he stated. “I had to soak it all in before it got real out there.”
