Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder), who played in parts of just four games in his rookie season in 2023 before having season-ending shoulder surgery for an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, is making roughly 40 throws per day in his recovery this offseason. He has thrown more than 200 passes in all just five months post-surgery. The 21-year-old former fourth overall pick is on a mission to get ready for his sophomore season and should be fully ready for Week 1 this fall. "I've never waited this long to get back to playing football," Richardson said. "I'm just on a mission this year. Once that mission's complete, then I'll be good." While Richardson has plenty to improve on as a passer, he has considerable QB1 upside in fantasy football because of his sure athletic ability and rushing prowess despite not having played a full season in the NFL.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen wouldn't say definitively that quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) will be cleared by next month but he "should be" after missing most of his rookie season in 2023 with an AC joint sprain that required season-ending surgery. "I know he's super fired up and ready to roll through the spring practice and training camp and this season," Steichen said. The 21-year-old had surgery on Oct. 24 and began throwing last month. This year in training camp, Richardson will take all of the starting reps while Joe Flacco serves as his backup. Having his role clearly defined at this stage of the offseason, as well as another year in the same system, should make Richardson feel more comfortable than he did as a rookie. His brief showing in 2023 gave fantasy managers a quick glimpse into his high-end QB1 upside, mainly because of his elite rushing abilities.

The Indianapolis Colts re-signed running back Trey Sermon to an undisclosed deal on Thursday. Sermon will return to the Colts in 2024 after carrying the ball 35 times for 160 yards and no touchdowns while catching three passes for 13 yards in 14 games in his first season with the team in 2023. Right now, the 25-year-old former third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 is next in line behind starter Jonathan Taylor after Zack Moss signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency, but it's likely that the Colts will add to the position through either free agency or the upcoming NFL draft. In his three years in the NFL with the Niners, Eagles and Colts, Sermon has averaged 4.4 yards per carry on 78 rushing attempts for 346 yards and only one score in 25 games (two starts).

Former Cleveland Browns quarterback and NFL Comeback Player of the Year winner Joe Flacco reached an agreement with the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday on a one-year deal worth up to $8.7 million, including $4.5 million guaranteed, according to sources. Flacco came off his couch to unexpectedly lead the Browns to the postseason in 2023, ultimately finishing with 1,616 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions in five starts during the regular season. The 39-year-old veteran will now head to Indy to replace Gardner Minshew as the primary backup for young signal-caller Anthony Richardson, who saw his rookie season come to an end early last year due to a shoulder injury. Given Richardson's propensity to run with the ball, another injury in 2024 could force Flacco back into the spotlight.

The Indianapolis Colts and standout wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. agreed to a three-year, $70 million contract extension on Monday, according to a source. The deal can reach up to $71.5 million maximum and includes $46 million guaranteed. The deal means that Pittman won't play the 2024 season under the franchise tag. It's a major win for both sides. The Colts had no intentions of letting one of the best receivers in the game reach the open market, which is why they used their franchise tag on the 26-year-old to buy them a little extra time to work on an extension. The former second-round pick in 2020 out of USC had a career-high 1,152 receiving yards and four touchdowns on a career-high 109 receptions in 16 games in 2023 and is a no-doubt WR1 in fantasy.