11 September 2023 , 19:21
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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence urged Indianapolis Colts rookie Anthony Richardson to try and protect himself on the field after being impressed by the number four overall pick's NFL debut on Sunday.
Richardson was one of three quarterbacks taken in the top four of the 2023 NFL Draft to start their team's season openers. The number one overall pick by the Carolina Panthers, Bryce Young, and the Houston Texans ' second overall selection, CJ Stroud, were the others out there over the opening weekend.
All three had losing starts, but there were plenty of positives on show, particularly for Richardson. The Florida Gators product was even in the history books before touching the ball.
Aged 21 he became the third-youngest starting QB in league history by beginning the game at his tender age. Only 2005 Super Bowl champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tommy Maddox - whose started aged 21 years and 25 days for the Denver Broncos - and current San Francisco 49ers backup Sam Darnold sit ahead of him in that list by a matter of days.
While not as young when debuting, Lawrence can relate to the expectations and pressure upon Richardson right now. And after coming out with a 31-21 win in the AFC South divisional showdown, the 2021 top pick pulled his opponents aside afterwards before departing the field.
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“Great game, you made some unbelievable plays,” Lawrence told Richardson, The Athletic reports. “Just try and protect yourself.”
He later added: "The hits add up in this league, and I think they’re a little different than in college." The Jacksonville QB refers to the painful-looking shot Richardson took during the latter stages of the fourth quarter, which forced Gardner Minshew to deputise for the rookie.
Lawrence and Richardson spoke out of the field (@Colts/Twitter)
Despite an early exit for Richardson with a knee knock, he carried on through the pain to listen to Lawrence (@Colts/Twitter)However, the rookie was quick to allay any fears about an injury that could keep him out of Indianapolis' coming games. After admitting that there was a "little boo" on his knee from where he hit the turf during the first quarter, Richardson insisted that he would "ice it, and it’ll be all right” in a team video.
“I’m all right, more so hurt that we lost than my knee. Other than that, I’m good,” the quarterback reiterated.
Despite taking him out of the game for the final three snaps, head coach Shane Steichen was confident his top rookie would be fine. “He should be all right. Everything should be all right. Yep,” the Colts coach said afterwards.
Steichen also saw plenty of promise from Richardson's performance. “I thought he played solid. I did,” Steichen said. The quarterback threw for 223 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
“You know what, I’ll take the fault for that interception right there, second-and-10 or whatever," the coach added. "It was a Cover 2 deal, and we didn’t have a great route called there. Got to be better there.
"I thought he managed the game well. I thought he did some good things. Really encouraged with his progress and what he did.”