Colts Face Jags Without Richardson: Week 6 Preview

The Indianapolis Colts (3-2) face the Jacksonville Jaguars (3-2) at EverBank Stadium on Sunday. This is the second matchup between the AFC South rivals this season.

Colts-Jags Part 1

The Jaguars opened the season in Indianapolis, a game in which Jacksonville would win 31-21.

The Week 1 matchup was the first game of former Gators quarterback and No. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson’s career. Richardson was productive in his debut. The rookie was 24/37 for 223 yards, including a screen pass to Michael Pittman Jr. that was taken 39-yards for the score. Richardson also ran 10 times for 40 yards and a touchdown.

https://twitter.com/Colts/status/1700945599376318568

The game remained within one score until late in the fourth quarter. With 5:09 left on the clock and while down 24-21, Richardson was picked off at his own 25-yard line by Tyson Campbell. Two plays later, Travis Etienne Jr. ripped off a 26-yard touchdown to give the Jags a 10-point lead.

The Colts were unable to recover from this deficit, and Richardson missed the last 58 seconds of the game after injuring his left knee while attempting to run for a touchdown.

The Jaguars fired on all cylinders.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for 241 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. In his first game back from suspension, Calvin Ridley caught eight passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Etienne Jr. rushed 18 times for 104 yards and his fourth quarter touchdown.

Richardson was also sacked four times, and three of the sacks were recorded by linebacker Josh Allen.

Colts

Indianapolis is coming off of a 23-16 home win over the Tennessee Titans.

Additionally, Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor made his season debut in the game. Taylor spent the first four weeks of the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list due to injury/contract holdout, but re-joined the team after signing a three-year, $42 million contract with the franchise.

Taylor was on a snap count and rushed just six times for 18 yards. In fact, Taylor’s return was completely upstaged by backup Zack Moss. Moss rushed 23 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns and also caught two passes for 30 yards.

Unfortunately for the Colts, Richardson injured his shoulder while being tackled on a rushing attempt with 4:26 left in the second quarter. Richardson was diagnosed with an AC joint sprain on his throwing shoulder, and was placed on the injured reserve on Wednesday.

Colts place QB Anthony Richardson on IR, will be out for next four games. pic.twitter.com/SeGnFimqP6

— NFL (@NFL) October 11, 2023

Durability has been an issue thus far for Richardson. In addition to the shoulder injury, Richardson missed most of Week 2 and all of Week 3 due to a concussion.

With Richardson on IR, the Colts will rely on backup quarterback Gardner Minshew for at least the next four games.

Jaguars

The Jags are coming home after two consecutive weeks in London. In Week 5, the Jaguars posted a statement win over the Buffalo Bills 25-20.

Lawrence was stellar in the passing game, going 25/37 with 315 yards and a touchdown, but fumbled three times, losing two of them. The star quarterback also ran seven times for 31 yards. Etienne Jr. continued his stellar season, rushing for 184 yards and two touchdowns off 26 carries while also catching four passes for 48 yards. Ridley also exploded for 136 yards off seven grabs after being rather quiet for three consecutive weeks.

The Jacksonville defense forced two turnovers. A failed Stefon Diggs lateral was recovered by 2022 first overall pick Travon Walker, and cornerback Darious Williams picked off Buffalo’s Josh Allen.

31 stole one!@Dee_Willl2 | #JAXvsBUF on NFLN/FOX pic.twitter.com/Z5z7MHRazB

— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) October 8, 2023

Preview

The Jaguars have won the past eight home games against the Colts, but Indianapolis leads the all-time series 27-18.

Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew was drafted by the Jaguars in the sixth round in 2019, and started 20 games during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. During his time with the team, Minshew threw for 5,530 yards, 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while having a 7-13 record.

This will be the first time Minshew has started against his former team.

Additionally, Taylor is expected to have an increased workload against the Jags.

Kickoff is at 1 p.m. Sunday.