Former NFL player calls out Colts coach after Anthony Richardson injury

The hit Monday morning and Indianapolis Colts fans were still holding their breath.

Although the Colts picked up a win in Week 4 and handed the Pittsburgh Steelers their first loss of the season, the victory came with a price.

Earlier in that game, quarterback Anthony Richardson left the game with an apparent hip injury. At first it didn't seem so bad as the second-year pro was able to return just moments later. But then Richardson was eliminated again after taking a hit on a so-called quarterback run play.

Almost immediately after Richardson left the game for the second time due to injury, a former NFL player took to social media to respond. Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Emmanuel Acho responded to the events by shouting to the Colts coaching staff:

“I can’t believe the Colts coaches did this.

Anthony Richardson left the game with a hip injury. Two minutes later he comes back hobbling and the very first play is a QB run!!

Richardson gets injured again and leaves the game to the locker room.

Surely Acho couldn't have been the only one who thought these things after seeing Richardson leave the game and not return. It just doesn't make sense. Your quarterback gets hurt, and it's still a hip injury, but you trot him right back out and call one Running game for him?

In what world does that even make sense, barring the selfish spirit of head coach Shane Steichen?

Sure, harsh words. But go ahead and find a reasonable argument for why it's the wrong attitude. I'll wait.

While we've already pointed it out, it's worth mentioning again until we have clarity on the Richardson injury. There could well be a quarterback controversy brewing for the Colts.

After Richardson's departure, veteran Joe Flacco stepped in for the Colts and was able to lead this team to victory. Not only was he able to help the team win, but Flacco also ran the offense effectively, throwing two touchdowns and finishing with a QBR that was 30 points higher than Richardson had that day.

Sure, Richardson gave a small sample before his departure, but the offense looked perfectly fine under Flacco's reign.

What will the Colts do if Richardson is ready to go in Week 5?

At first glance, that would be a big plus. Without getting too involved in the quarterback controversy, the hope here is that Richardson will actually do well

But if not? Then the decision has already been made and it will be easy. Flacco is capable of leading this team. That is positive.

And yet here in Richardson we are once again talking about the franchise quarterback who still has a lot of development work to do. There are many layers to this, whether it's that Richardson is “injury prone” or that his career got off to a rocky start after entering the league without a ton of starting experience.

First of all, I hope that Richardson is okay and that the injury is nothing serious. We'll leave it at that for now.