Indianapolis, IN
Anthony Richardson In Regular Season Form, Which Won’t Be Great For Colts In 2024
Good news, Indianapolis Colts fans: Anthony Richardson is ready for the 2024 NFL regular season, as he proved Thursday evening.
Richardson, the Colts bright, young quarterback of tomorrow, showed in five possessions of this preseason finale that he is raw.
And good.
And terrible.
He showed he is still as inconsistent as he was in college at the University of Florida because he hasn’t played enough football in college or the NFL to be anything else.
In short, he showed everyone a preview of what is to come this season.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) throws a pass in the first quarter at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.
Richardson’s Rollercoaster Will Continue
A few weeks ago, in an interview available on the team’s YouTube page, Richardson described his rookie season as a “rollercoaster.”
He ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
He ain’t seen enough blitzes, cloud coverages, or defenses ready for Indy’s RPOs, and pass rushes intended to contain him in the pocket. Richardson is about to face all those. He’s about to face a lot of problems.
And if he can’t find solutions quickly, there’s no way he can be consistent.
The good news? Consistency is a two-edged sword because Richardson is too gifted to be consistently bad.
So what we’re going to see is something akin to what we saw this game. A stomach-churning rollercoaster ride.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) throws a pass in the second quarter of the NFL preseason game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Indianapolis Colts at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024.
Great Opening Drive For Richardson
This preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals didn’t count. But it did matter.
Richardson, playing with the Colts’ starting offensive unit, led an impressive opening drive. He completed 7 of 8 passes on that one, including a 9-yard TD to Adonai Mitchell.
On that drive, we witnessed what Colts fans are hoping to see from their quarterback going forward.
He looked every bit the part of a young Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck.
So, optimism time in Indianapolis.
Then reality set in.
Richardson threw an interception on his next possession. And the interception wasn’t the worst part of the play.
Aug 22, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) runs with the ball against the Cincinnati Bengals in the first half at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
The Reality Of Anthony Richardson
The interception, you see, was plucked out of the air by Bengals safety Jordan Battle and returned for a touchdown. And a Pick Six is worse the worst kind of interception.
As the terrible play was unfolding, an obviously distressed Richardson threw his hands up in the air and cringed and complained in frustration because he and tight end Kylen Granson were clearly not on the same page.
“The interception, that was a tough one,” Richardson said afterward. “Communication right there. Granson saw something and I saw something else. We’ve just got to be on the same page right there.”
The point isn’t that the two players who work together in practice every day weren’t synced up. That happens. The point is the sight of a clearly vexed Richardson was caught by the Amazon streaming service cameras in full focus.
And terrible body language by the quarterback during a pick six is more than bad optics. The last thing any coach wants to see from his quarterback is bad body language amid adversity.
It didn’t get much better afterward.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) smiles while warming up Saturday, July 27, 2024, during the Indianapolis Colts’ training camp at Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield.
A Preview Of 2024 Season
Richardson and the Colts’ starting offense got three more drives in this game, leaking into the second quarter. And they went scoreless in all of those.
Richardson and his receivers were not on the same page. Richardson struggled with both his accuracy and touch, at one point sailing a pass perhaps two feet over the head of a clearly open receiver on a third-down play. His footwork was weird (technical term), too.
And did we mention all this happened against a Bengals defense that rested all of its starters?
Richardson completed 8 of 14 passes with one touchdown, one interception, and one fumble against guys headed for the bench or waiver wire when the NFL regular season begins.
So what to make of this?
It’s simple. This is what awaits the Colts in 2024 with their young starting quarterback.
As he begins his second professional season, Richardson has thrown all of 84 passes in the league. He played only four games as a rookie because of a concussion and then a season-ending A/C joint in his right (throwing) shoulder.
This year is, for all intents and purposes, Richardson’s first in the NFL. So this is the planting season. The growing season.
But it’s unlikely to be the harvest season.
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen could be in for a long season in the AFC South. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
What To Do With Struggles?
Amazon Prime game analyst Kirk Herbstreit asked rhetorically during the broadcast what happens if Richardson struggles all season long?
If?
When.
Indy’s hope for this season must be that Richardson’s inconsistency is balanced out later in the season with improvement. That hope is tied to coach Shane Steichen’s reputation as a builder of quarterbacks.
Steichen has a lot to work with in Richardson. But it’s a considerable project that isn’t going to be completed for a long while.
Anyone knowing Richardson’s history and watching him play against a defense of backups Thursday could see that.
by:
Gregg Montgomery and Kelsie Gibbs
Posted: / Updated:
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indy Parks on Saturday will unveil the restoration of longstanding fountains, a project almost two years in the making.
The fountains were already shooting water among newly landscaped walking paths on Wednesday afternoon at the Garfield Park Sunken Garden.
City planner and landscape architect George Kessler designed the Sunken Garden and the adjacent Garfield Park Conservatory, which was built in 1916 at 2505 Conservatory Drive.
Funds for the $3 million restoration project were part of an $80 million Lilly Endowment grant issued to Indy Parks in late 2022 for projects at 42 Indianapolis parks.
The Friends of Garfield Park, a group devoted to the south-side park, oversaw the project to restore the concrete walls and plumbing, and add color-changing lights to enhance the look of the fountains.
The group hopes to raise an additional $1 million for the upkeep of the fountains.
A news release issued Wednesday said a recognition event and a ribbon-cutting, free and open to the public, were scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday. Due to storms in the forecast, the event could be delayed or canceled.
Indianapolis, IN
That trail you walk downtown? It’s generated $3 billion for Indianapolis, study finds
See the 10th Street Cultural Trail Expansion ribbon cutting ceremon
Highlights: Indiana Ave. and 10th Street Cultural Trail Expansion ribbon cutting on Indiana Ave. on Thursday, June 20, 2024, in Indianapolis.
Since its creation, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail in the heart of Circle City has drawn millions of residents and visitors to its distinctive paved path. But according to a new report, the trail isn’t just beneficial for those looking to get out on an urban stroll or bike ride — it’s a driver for the city’s economy and quality of life.
The report, “Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick at 20: Connecting People, Places, and Possibility,” was based on analysis by James Lima Planning + Development, a group of real estate, planning and economic development advisors. Here’s what to know about the report.
How has the Cultural Trail affected the city’s growth, development?
According to the report from 2026, the 10-mile trail has generated $3 billion in assessed property value around its path — money that supports the city and its governmental services.
The population along the trail has grown five times the city average and retail space near the trail has increased 39%, the report shows. Nearby food and beverage sales are almost twice the average per square foot in Indianapolis.
Additionally, the report shows, undeveloped land along the trail has the potential to add $1.4 billion of value in the near future. Since an initial study in 2015, the trail’s economic impact has grown from $1 billion to $3 billion.
“For nearly 20 years, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail has helped transform Downtown Indianapolis into a more vibrant, connected and economically competitive city,” Mayor Joe Hogsett said in a June 3 news release. “It is more than a trail. It is a nationally recognized public asset that drives investment, supports local businesses, connects neighborhoods and improves quality of life for the people who live, work, play and stay in our city.”
According to the report, over 1 million people use the trail each year, and almost half of downtown Indianapolis residents live within a three-minute walk of the path.
What other features does the Cultural Trail offer?
Users of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail aren’t limited to walking — the Pacers Bikeshare program, operated by the trail, has 57 bike stations throughout the city that are accessible 24/7.
The trail also features nearly six acres of plants and greenspace, offering locals and visitors an urban getaway. City planners from across the world have visited the trail to study its design, according to the report.
What is the future of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail?
Focus on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail has shifted from construction and maintenance to long-term operations and expanded resources for the public.
Kären Haley, executive director of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, Inc. — the trail’s nonprofit — said it has grown into the “crown jewel” of the city with the growth and development it has created over two decades.
“The Cultural Trail is driving billions in investment and making surrounding neighborhoods thriving destinations,” she said in a June 3 news release. “As we enter the next phase for the Trail, we look forward to building upon our initial 20 years of impact.”
Mia Thurow is the breaking news and criminal justice reporting intern for the Indianapolis Star. She can be reached at mthurow@gannett.com.
ICYMI: Top 5 IndyStar business stories in May 2026
A busy month at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway reignited debates about hotels and the downtown heliport. Plus, Eli Lilly celebrated 150 years.
May came and went, and with it, we saw the closest Indianapolis 500 finish in history, the 150th anniversary of Eli Lilly and a contested primary election day.
There’s also been some movement in retail news ahead of the summer shopping season. On the north side, a new women’s clothing store opened while a piercing studio set up shop in Speedway. Meanwhile, an indoor children’s play place opened on the near north side.
Read on for four spots that recently opened and one in Broad Ripple that said farewell.
Openings
Monkee’s
8659 River Crossing Blvd., monkeesofindianapolis.com, opened in March
Monkee’s of Indianapolis, a high-end women’s clothing store, opened recently on the north side in the Shops at River Crossing near the Fashion Mall. The brand Monkee’s started in the South three decades ago and has since grown to nearly 70 locations. In Indianapolis, Missy Llewellyn and Whitney Schmitt started the franchise to bring the clothing brand to the Circle City.
The Nest Play Cafe
515 E 22nd St Suite 101, indynestplaycafe.com, opened early May
The Nest Play Cafe opened at the corner of Central Avenue and 22nd Street, offering an indoor space for parents and caregivers to bring their children to play. Caregivers can book 90-minute play sessions for $15 per child over the age of one. Tickets for additional siblings run $10. The cafe sells coffee and snacks, too.
Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to noon. Closed Tuesdays.
Forget Me Not Piercing Studio
5324 W. 16th St., jessflowerspiercings.square.site, opened May 27
A new piercing studio opened in Speedway at the end of May just days after the Indianapolis 500. Forget Me Not Piercing offers traditional lobe, helix and conch piercings along with nostril and septum piercings. Artist Jess Flowers opened the one-woman shop on 16th Street.
Open Sunday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Black Orchid Barbers Fountain Square
1201 Prospect St. Suite 100, blackorchidbarbers.com, opened in May
Black Orchid, a local barbershop known for its sharp haircuts with a side of humor, opened its Fountain Square spot, marking the company’s seventh brick-and-mortar location. Walk-ins are welcome but Black Orchid recommends grabbing a time slot online for your preferred service.
Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closures
Vitality IV Bar
6302 Guilford Ave., vitalityivbar.com
An IV-wellness spot in Broad Ripple shut its doors last month. Vitality IV Bar was located next to the Thieves cocktail lounge, formerly the Broad Ripple Starbucks location, before it went out of business.
Vitality IV still operates an Indianapolis-area location on Mass Ave downtown at 749 Massachusetts Ave where customers can book a variety of infusions with vitamins.
See a store opening or closing near you? Contact IndyStar reporter Alysa Guffey at alysa.guffey@indystar.com.
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