The Indianapolis Colts have been dealt a major blow ahead of their upcoming game against the Houston Texans. Anthony Richardson, the team’s starting running back, has been ruled out of the game due to a concussion.
Richardson suffered the concussion during the Colts’ Week 8 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was forced to leave the game in the fourth quarter and was later diagnosed with a concussion. The Colts have since been monitoring his progress and have determined that he will not be able to play against the Texans.
The loss of Richardson is a major blow to the Colts’ offense. He had been one of the team’s most productive players this season, rushing for 462 yards and four touchdowns in eight games. He also had been a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield, catching 21 passes for 162 yards.
The Colts will now turn to rookie running back Jonathan Taylor to carry the load in Richardson’s absence. Taylor has had an impressive rookie season, rushing for 518 yards and four touchdowns in eight games. He will likely be the team’s primary ball-carrier against the Texans.
The Colts will also rely on veteran running back Nyheim Hines to help fill the void left by Richardson. Hines has been a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield this season, catching 33 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns. He will likely see an increased role in the Colts’ offense against the Texans.
The Colts will certainly miss Richardson’s production against the Texans, but they are fortunate to have two capable running backs in Taylor and Hines who can help fill the void. It remains to be seen how effective they will be without Richardson, but they will certainly be looking to make a statement against a division rival.
