Chris Ballard Explains Where Anthony Richardson Needs To Grow

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INDIANAPOLIS – The questions are plural for Anthony Richardson, and the list of those has grown after a second NFL season.

Will he ever be at an acceptable accuracy level?

Will the turnover number come down?

Will proper preparation no longer be an issue?

For Chris Ballard though, he points to that other question—-centered around Richardson’s availability.

“I don’t think we can completely stamp it,” Ballard says of the Richardson assessment through two seasons. “We’ve seen some good things. I like Anthony and Anthony’s done some really good things, but there’s been some potholes too. We knew when we took him it was going to be a roller coaster. I don’t think I did a very good job – I think I explained that it’s going to take some time. But look, I got excited too about the talent and the wild plays, but now we need the consistency down after down.

“But the No. 1 thing we have to figure out, and what Anthony’s got to work through, is staying healthy. Like he’s got to be able to stay healthy. And that to me, is probably the biggest question right now, because now we’re going on two seasons in a row where he’s dealt with injuries. So, that’s the first thing.”

In Richardson missing 17 of 34 games due to injury, Ballard is acknowledging one of those questions, and one that might be the hardest to answer.

Ballard stresses the need for consistency from Richardson, and that certainly applies to the accuracy debate with the young quarterback.

The GM remains bullish that Richardson can improve his accuracy, with his completion percentage dipping from 59.5 percent as a rookie to 47.7 percent this past season.

“I think he has moments of like, really good accuracy,” Ballard says. “I’m going to tell you my thoughts…I think his mind gets going, like a lot of times with quarterbacks, when they’re unsure you can look at their feet. And they get really poppy and nervous and fidgety. Like with Anthony, I think what happens is, it happens in his brain. And then all of the sudden when the ball comes out, I mean it’s coming out on fire because he’s just unleashing it because he’s thinking so much before the snap, during the snap. And that just comes with time.

“I thought he had some really good moments at the end of the game versus New England, hard to argue against how the poise and calmness to throw those balls on very accurate throws. But look, you’re in two-minute offense. The offense is cut down. He knew exactly what he was doing, where he was going with the ball. And so, you saw a calmness there in those moments. So, it can get better? Yes, I do think it can get better.”

Along with Richardson making some tangible changes to his throwing this offseason, Ballard expresses optimism due to what the quarterback is now able to do this time of year.

Last winter, Richardson was still in the thick of right shoulder rehab, not starting to throw again until the end of February.

That’s not the case in 2025.

Despite that though, Ballard isn’t ignoring the need for No. 5 being more consistent and for that QB room to receive some real competition.

“He was rehabbing a lot (in early 2024), so that’s going to give him a chance to work on some things going forward that we think will help going into next season,” the GM explains.

“Now saying all that, like we can’t beat our head against the wall. We’ve got to have competition at the position. One, for the fact that competition makes everybody better. And then two, he’s not proven he can play 17 games.”

The start of every NFL offseason brings a break from players inside their respective team buildings.

Such a gathering won’t occur again until April, meaning a guy like Richardson is not going to have the Colts brass over his shoulder during such a critical time for needed improvement.

This past season, Richardson had issues with his work, leading to a multi-game benching.

How will the Colts handle that when he’s away from the team complex?

“There’s NFL rules. We can’t actually hold his hand,” Ballard says. “I think we’re at a point where we shouldn’t, going forward, like we don’t need to hold any hands. Now, it’s time to, ‘Alright, you understand the standard. We’ve gone through the growing pains. You’ve made mistakes. Now, much like myself, you’ve got to learn from those mistakes, and you’ve got to grow from them.’

“We know where he works. We know the people that work with him, and we’re in constant communication with them. But he’s got to go to work, and I think he will.”

The work, for now, is out of the spotlight.

When that spotlight turns back on come training camp and beyond, will we see that needed growth from the franchise quarterback?