Anthony Richardson Rumors: Colts QB Arrives to Work 'Around 5:30 a.m.' After Benching

Anthony Richardson is "arriving to work earlier" after getting benched as the Indianapolis Colts' starting quarterback, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder.

"He's been getting to the team facility around 5:30 a.m., getting an early start on film study and general game planning ahead of Sunday's game against the New York Jets," Holder reported.

Holder also wrote Richardson has conversed with offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. more regularly, which has helped him gain a better knowledge of Indianapolis' pass protection schemes.

Head coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday he's pivoting back to the 2023 first-round pick as his starter and intends to keep him there the rest of the season.

Richardson, for his part, said he knows he can't stop putting in the work behind the scenes despite Steichen's show of renewed faith.

The 22-year-old played just four games in his rookie season due to a shoulder injury, but expectations were high heading into year two. He then missed two games early in the 2024 season with an oblique injury.

When healthy, however, Richardson struggled. In his first six games of the season he threw for just 958 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions, completing 44.4 percent of his passes while taking nine sacks. He did rush for 242 yards and a score, but his struggles as a passer were hard to ignore.

Eventually, those issues got him a demotion, alongside some unwise honesty following a late October loss to the Houston Texans. Reporters wondered if Richardson had been injured when he left for one play during that contest but received a different explanation altogether.

"I was tired, I ain't gonna lie," he told reporters. "That was a lot of running right there. I didn't think I'd be able to do that next play so I told them I needed a break right there."

That was perhaps the final straw for his hold on the starting gig. Joe Flacco was named the starter going forward, although Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in early November that the change in quarterbacks came about more "because Flacco has played at such a high level" and that "several sources with knowledge of the thinking of Colts players say they believe this choice was the right one. They wanted Flacco to be this year's quarterback."

More than anything, Steichen seemed to be sending a message to Richardson. The young signal-caller couldn't take anything for granted and assume the starting job was his no matter what. He had to keep earning it.

Based on Holder's report, Richardson heard his coach loud and clear.