Colts waiting to see if Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor can return against Titans

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indianapolis Colts are still in a holding pattern in awaiting the returns of quarterback Anthony Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor.

Injuries again limited Richardson to individual work Wednesday while Taylor again sat out — just like last week when both were ruled out of the Jacksonville game. Both players and the Colts are hoping for a different decision Sunday at Tennessee.

“I feel way better compared to last week,” Richardson said before practice. “I was able to move a little better and able to get going, start running and throwing. So, feeling good about that.”

Coach Shane Steichen was short on details about the likely playing status of his starting quarterback and 2021 All-Pro running back, something that’s not expected to change until closer to game time.

While Richardson went through pregame warmups before he was deactivated, Taylor didn’t practice at all last week and was ruled out Friday.

“He’s working through it, he’s looking good, so we’ll see how the week goes with him,” Steichen said, referring to Taylor. “Hopeful that he’ll be out there. We’ll see.”

The same could be about Richardson, who walked around the locker room without a noticeable limp. Instead, Richardson was his usually upbeat self — even as he faces the possibility of missing his second straight game and the 15th of his two-year career. Naturally, he wants to play so he can dispel the notion he’s injury prone.

But after his limited work last week, the Colts (2-3) decided it would be too risky for Richardson to play because his injured right hip has hampered both his running and throwing.

“Little bit of both, honestly because of the rotation, getting my hips right,” Richardson said. “It’s just putting a lot of torque and stuff on my body. But I’d probably say both (aspects) with the same difficulty. But I’m feeling good with both now, so we’re just going to check it out.”

What Steichen didn’t say, though, was whether Indy’s growing injury list could impact decisions on either Richardson or Taylor against the Titans (1-3).

The stakes are already high for Indy, which is two games behind defending AFC South champion Houston and is already 0-2 in division play after losing to the Texans in the opener and at previously winless Jacksonville last week. The Colts also have lost three straight division games, going back to a playoff-eliminating loss in the 2023 regular-season finale, and are a meager 4-9-1 against the AFC South since 2022.

The good news for the Colts — Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly could return from his neck injury after missing the past two games. He practiced Wednesday, the first time he’s worked out since initially appearing on the team’s injury report Sept. 26.

If Kelly doesn’t play, Indy would likely start two rookies — center Tanor Bortolini, a fourth-round draft pick, and right guard Dalton Tucker, an undrafted rookie who replaced Will Fries during last week’s game. Fries was carted off the field and taken to a Jacksonville hospital where he had surgery on his lower right leg, a procedure that will likely end his season.

Pro Bowl cornerback Kenny Moore II has missed two straight games with a bad hip and starting defensive end Kwity Paye missed the Jaguars game with an injured quadricep. More and Paye both did limited work Wednesday.

The Colts also have three defensive starters on injured reserve — cornerback JuJu Brents (knee), All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (ankle) and Samson Ebukam, Indy’s sacks leader in 2023 who suffered a torn Achilles tendon at training camp.

The result: Indy gave up 37 points and nearly 500 yards against a Jaguars offense that had been struggling before playing the Colts. But Steichen refused to blame the poor performance on being short-handed.

“A lot of it too is fundamentals and technique, and it’s not just the defense. It’s all three phases,” Steichen said. ”We’ve got to play with fundamentals, technique. We’ve got to be relentless in everything we do. That’s one of the pillars I believe in.”

And if Taylor and Richardson are out again Sunday, Steichen also believes running back Trey Sermon and 39-year-old Joe Flacco will be ready to step in yet again.

Flacco promises he’ll be ready — just as he was in Week 4 when he relieved Richardson and in Week 5 when he made his first start with the Colts.

“This week may be a little bit different than last week,” Flacco said, referring to practicing with the starters last week. “We’ll see how he (Richardson) feels when we go out there, but ultimately it’s the same mindset.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season!