Anthony Richardson injury: Colts QB out vs. Steelers with hip injury

INDIANAPOLIS — Colts starting quarterback Anthony Richardson has been ruled out of the game vs. the Steelers due to a hip injury suffered in the first quarter.

Even though Richardson tried to get back into the game.

The Indianapolis starter emerged from the locker room after a lengthy examination by trainers and came out of the locker room running at a good clip, then spent the next couple of plays stretching and jogging on the sideline.

For a second, it looked like Richardson was going back in the game, and he briefly tried to rejoin the huddle, but veteran Joe Flacco was put back into the huddle, and a little while later, Indianapolis listed Richardson as out for the rest of the game, although the 22-year-old stayed on the sideline in uniform for most of the first half, a towel over his head.

Richardson tried hard to stay in the game despite taking two significant hits to his right hip.

The Colts starter suffered the initial injury after after taking a heavy blow to the right hip from Pittsburgh safety Minkah Fitzpatrick at the end of a first-down run in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Steelers.

Richardson returned to the game for a play, carried the ball again, tried to slide and took a blow to the upper body from Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Richardson stayed down again on his side, got up and walked off under his own power while holding his right side, then left the field again.

Trainers immediately took Richardson to the locker room the second time. He was listed as questionable to return with a hip injury, returned to the sideline with his helmet on prior to the next drive and did some jogging but backup Joe Flacco remained in the game.

Colts score: Follow Steelers-Colts NFL game today live: Indianapolis 14, Pittsburgh 0, Anthony Richardson injury

The two blows the Steelers delivered to Richardson were the kind of hits the quarterback needed to avoid this season after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury at the end of a run against the Titans.

Richardson’s first run was a glimpse of the explosiveness the quarterback brings to the offense.

Keeping the ball after faking a handoff to running back Jonathan Taylor, Richardson opted to avoid sliding, taking a hit to the back from DeShon Elliott that forced a fumble. Colts center Tanor Bortolini recovered the fumble in a scrum while Richardson stayed on his back nearby, unable to get off the field.

After being examined briefly by trainers, Richardson got off the turf and ran to the sideline under his own power, then returned to the field after backup quarterback Joe Flacco took two snaps in his place.

Richardson kept the ball on the handoff to the left side and tried to slide, but Fitzpatrick hit him high anyway, and Richardson was unable to get off the turf.

This time, the Colts trainers did not wait; Richardson went directly to the locker room.

Flacco completed both of his pass attempts for 14 yards including a 4-yard touchdown to Josh Downs to make it 14-0 Colts.

Here is a look at the first injury:

Here is a look at the second injury:

What did Colts coach Shane Steichen say about Anthony Richardson's injury?

On why Richardson went back into the game after the first injury:

"He felt good to go back in. Ran the play, and then he felt it a little bit more on the next play."

On why Steichen ran Richardson on his first play after returning from injury:

“They went base defense. He said he felt good to go. So, that was the look we had for it, and he just felt it again, so.”

On how Richardson was feeling when he came out of the locker room :

“Yeah, no, he was feeling it. He was feeling it. We just wanted to hold him out.”

On why Richardson was on the field after returning to the sideline following the second injury:

“Yeah, no, he was just encouraging the guys. That's all he was doing. He's going out there to encourage the team.”

What did Anthony Richardson say about his injury?

On how he felt after the game:

“Feeling good, we got the W today. Great execution by everybody on the field today. I think I’m going to be good. Just a little soreness.”

On what the injury is:

“Just my hip. My hip was hurting. I tried to go back out there, but I just couldn’t accelerate how I wanted to. Coach was, like, trying not to mess up the team right now, so I was like, I’ll just sit.”

On if he can play next week:

“I don’t know. We’ve just got to see what they say. My hip’s just a little sore right now.”

On his reaction when he went down:

“People are going to talk about injuries, people are going to say injury-prone, blah, blah, blah. But nobody wants to get injured. Everybody wants to stay on the field. Of course, I was like, 'Man, damn, not again.' But it’s all good. It’s God’s plan. I’m just trusting it.”

What was the conversation when you came out of the locker room?

“They really just asked me how I felt, trying to throw and stuff like that. We both just agreed it wasn’t best for me to go out there.”

Who is Anthony Richardson's backup on the Colts depth chart?

Joe Flacco. The 17-year veteran has played with Baltimore, Denver, the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns before signing with the Colts as Richardson's backup in the offseason. He was 4-1 with the Browns at the end of last season, completing 60.3% of his passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

Joe Flacco stats

Flacco was 4-1 with the Browns at the end of last season, completing 60.3% of his passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

What is Joe Flacco's age?

He is 39. He will turn 40 on Jan. 16.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Anthony Richardson injury: Colts QB out vs. Steelers with hip injury