The Indianapolis Colts lost a pair of players to injury before Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals even began.
Backup quarterback Anthony Richardson and cornerback Charvarius Ward both suffered injuries during Sunday’s pregame warmups.
The unexpected issues threw a wrench into the Colts’ typical pregame routine. Richardson injured his eye when an elastic band — used for stretching — snapped, according to multiple reports. Ward was treated for a concussion after running into a teammate before the game.
Richardson was taken to a nearby hospital and required stitches after the stretching equipment malfunctioned in the locker room, according to an ESPN report.
Ward suffered his second concussion of the season when he inadvertently ran into a teammate, tight end Drew Ogletree. The veteran cornerback remained prone on the field for several moments as team trainers attended to him.
The 29-year-old had already sustained a head injury during the season opener against the Miami Dolphins and missed the following game against the Denver Broncos.
Richardson, a 2023 first-round pick, had served as the primary backup for Colts quarterback Daniel Jones this season. Rookie Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick from Notre Dame, is Indianapolis’ backup on Sunday.
The Colts and Cardinals were tied 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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