Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. was hit with a misdemeanor charge for marijuana possession earlier this month, according to court records obtained by ESPN.
"We are aware of the situation involving Anthony Richardson and are currently gathering additional information," the Colts said in a statement. "We will have no further comment at this time."
Police pulled Richardson over on Oct. 12 after officers had questions about the car's registration. Police smelled marijuana in the car, and the quarterback admitted to smoking in the vehicle to avoid smoking marijuana at his house around his children. A search of the vehicle revealed a small amount of marijuana and THC-infused gummies that were confiscated by authorities.
The former No. 4 overall pick was not arrested and was allowed to leave. But he was issued a citation for an expired registration and a summons for the charge of marijuana possession.
Richardson, who is in the final year of his rookie deal, has not appeared in a game this season and was given permission to seek a trade in February. However, no trade partner appeared, and he returned to the fold to serve as Daniel Jones' backup.
As a prospect, Richardson was recognized for his athletic ability. He actually became the most athletic quarterback to ever go through the NFL combine process up to that point, checking in with impressive measurements at 6-foot-4, 244 pounds, then running an official 4.43 40-yard dash, registering a 40.5-inch vertical leap, plus a 10-foot-9 broad jump. It led recently fired general manager Chris Ballard to use the Colts' top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on the Florida product despite his lack of experience, as Richardson had made just 13 starts.
Richardson went 2-2 as a starter during his rookie season before a shoulder injury ended his year early. There was considerable excitement surrounding his entering 2024, as Richardson scored seven total touchdowns over his first three NFL games. However, an oblique injury sidelined him in Week 4, and then came the infamous incident in Week 8 against the Houston Texans, when Richardson took himself out of the game because he "needed a breather." Richardson was then benched for Joe Flacco, but returned to the starting lineup three weeks later.
