The New Orleans Saints are getting a big break — their Week 8 opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, won’t have starting quarterback Anthony Richardson. Richardson has been placed on injured reserve, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, so it’ll be Gardner Minshew filling in when the Saints visit Indianapolis in a few weeks.
Richardson is dealing with a more-severe AC joint sprain than the injury Derek Carr suffered earlier this season which could sideline him for as many as eight weeks. It’s tough news for a rookie quarterback who needs these reps to develop his craft, but it’s good news for New Orleans. Richardson is exactly the sort of big-armed, athletic passer who has given their defense problems before.
Instead they’ll be facing Minshew, who the Saints sacked six times last season when he was playing for the Philadelphia Eagles (three of those coming from Cameron Jordan). He’s a competent backup but has struggled when asked to start for a longer period of time, so this matchup suddenly looks very favorable for them. We’ll check in on his progress as the Colts’ fill-in quarterback when the Saints begin preparing for him in a few weeks.
