WESTFIELD, Ind. — Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson practiced Saturday after dislocating his right pinkie finger in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens. The third-year pro played six snaps before being sacked and injured in the first quarter. He did not return to the game.

X-rays on Richardson’s right hand did not reveal any extensive damage to his pinkie, league sources told The Athletic. Richardson’s pinkie was taped up during Saturday’s practice, but he was able to grip and throw the football in individual and team drills, just as he normally does.

#Colts QB Anthony Richardson throwing on the run. He’s wearing some sort of tape on his right pinkie/hand. pic.twitter.com/GS1l8ca2IV

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 9, 2025

Richardson, the 2023 No. 4 pick, remains locked in a battle with ex-New York Giants starter Daniel Jones for the Colts’ starting quarterback job. Saturday, Jones was 5-of-6 passing with two TD passes to second-year wide receiver AD Mitchell during the team’s 11-on-11 periods. Richardson finished 1-of-6 passing and had one rushing TD. Despite his struggling through the air, Richardson’s teammates were pleased to have him rejoin the action.

“You never want to see your teammate get hit or go down. For him to not come back in the game, (it) made me really nervous,” Colts center Tanor Bortolini said after Saturday’s practice. “Obviously, as an offensive lineman, you take a lot of pride in protecting that guy. So, for him to not be protected on that, it hurts us. I’m just happy that he’s OK.”

As much as Bortolini, who snapped the ball to Richardson on the play on which he got injured, tried to take the blame for Richardson’s dislocated finger, Richardson acknowledged after Thursday’s game that the injury occurred, in part, because he did not recognize the Ravens’ blitz. His misdiagnosis of the play allowed Baltimore linebacker David Ojabo to get a free rush and clobber him in the backfield.

“We’ve gone over it,” Colts quarterbacks coach Cam Turner said Saturday. “He’s (executed it) before. It’s not something that he’s never hit in his life. But every play is a learning (opportunity), whether it’s Year 2, Year 3 (or) whether it’s Year 8. … No matter if it’s a base install play, you have rules you have to follow, and you have responsibilities. I think that’s a good reminder.”

Richardson said after Thursday’s game that he has to be sharper with his “p’s and q’s.” After taking the big hit, Richardson added he was focused on not fumbling the ball when he looked down and realized his right pinkie finger was pointing “in a different direction.”

The Colts’ training staff was able to pop Richardson’s dislocated finger back into place on the sideline. Though he continued throwing on the sideline and wanted to re-enter the game, the team ruled him out.

Although Richardson practiced Saturday, his finger dislocation in the Colts’ first preseason game adds to the narrative that he’s injury-prone. There’s plenty of evidence to back up those concerns. The Colts shut down Richardson during spring practice in May because of soreness in his surgically repaired right shoulder. He missed 17 games due to injury (concussion, shoulder, oblique and back) through his first two NFL seasons and has never started more than four straight games.

#Colts QBs coach Cam Turner on the play when Anthony Richardson got sacked and disclosed his right pinkie:

“We’ve gone over it before. He’s (executed it) before. It’s not something he’s never hit in his life. But every play is a learning (opportunity). … Just a good reminder.” pic.twitter.com/t9kspJsDP4

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 9, 2025

Richardson’s inability to stay healthy is the top reason Indianapolis pursued Jones in free agency, Colts general manager Chris Ballard said in January. There’s also the fact Richardson threw 12 interceptions in 11 starts last year, and his 47.7 completion percentage was the lowest mark in the NFL. Meanwhile, Jones, the No. 6 pick in the 2019 draft, is seeking a rebound after fizzling out with the Giants.

“We’ve got to have competition at the position, for one, for the fact that competition makes everybody better,” Ballard said at the end of the 2024 campaign. “And then for two, (Richardson) has not proven he can play 17 games.”

The Colts will host the Green Bay Packers for a joint practice Thursday and their second preseason game Saturday. Before Richardson dislocated his pinkie, Colts coach Shane Steichen said the plan was for Richardson to start and play most of the first half against the Ravens, and then Jones would start and play most of the first half against the Packers. However, since Richardson was limited to just two drives at Baltimore, Steichen might reconsider his original plan versus Green Bay.

(Photo: Logan Bowles / Getty Images)