Richardson doesn't throw at OTA's and the civic freakout can commence

After living through Andrew Luck's shoulder recovery, our city knows how this story can play out, and it scares us to death.

Anthony Richardson is making a few throws left-handed, none right-handed, during the final day of Colts’ mandatory OTA’s at 56^th Street.

This would be a giant nothing-burger if he wasn’t coming off surgery on his right shoulder, or if we – meaning the Indy market – hadn’t spent countless months (hell, years) hearing how Andrew Luck’s shoulder was healing just fine, only to hear of another setback…and another…and another.

So forgive us if we’re not completely sold on the notion that Richardson, the future of this franchise, is just fine while he’s telling us Thursday he’s still dealing with shoulder soreness. Forgive us if we’re not completely sanguine when Richardson, smiling, says the soreness is all part of the process, that he’s actually ahead of the game with his recovery, and a little rest and relaxation and some therapy will have him ready for training camp in July up in Westfield.

I hope so.

BUT CAN WE FREAK OUT FOR JUST A MINUTE?

I mean, haven’t we earned that right?

The team’s success comes down to Richardson’s availability. Combine Richardson with Jonathan Taylor, and you’ve got one of the most electric backfields in football. Michael Pittman Jr. will catch 100 passes or more. AD Mitchell, the second-round wide receiver, has impressed so far this summer. “He’s always open,” Richardson said Thursday. “He’s got some wiggle to him.” Josh Downs had a hugely successful season as a rookie last year. And after all those years of drafting tight ends, you’ve got to think at least one of them will emerge…I mean, don’t you? (And who knows, maybe Alec Pierce finally becomes a player in his third year.)

The Colts are running it back, the starters last year mostly returning this year, and the pressure, perhaps unintentionally, is all on Richardson. I’m still not convinced Chris Ballard has surrounded him with enough in the way of receiving weapons, but the Colts seem to think that a full season of Richardson (fingers crossed) will get them to the playoffs. And make no mistake: If you’re Ballard, it’s hard to make the case you deserve another season after eight years without winning the AFC South.

“It’s just a little soreness,” Richardson said. “I’ve been dealing with soreness since I started throwing, just my shoulder. It’s hard to listen to the trainers sometimes. I don’t want to sit out, but it’s part of the health journey.” 

Shane Steichen said if the Colts had a game Sunday, Richardson would play.

Which should, in theory, make us all feel better.

But we’ve been through the Andrew Luck shoulder fiasco.

Forgive us our freakout.

But we’ve earned our panic honestly.