The Colts' troubles continue in the wake of the “Faulk Case”: QB Anthony Richardson arrested for marijuana possession

The Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback Anthony Richardson is facing a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge after a traffic stop in Indiana on October 12 as the legal trouble adds another setback to a difficult period for the former fourth overall NFL Draft pick.

Richardson was driving a black 2023 Dodge Charger when police pulled him over due to a discrepancy involving the vehicle's license plate and expired registration, according to court records.

Officers reportedly detected the odor of marijuana when approaching the car and according to reports, Richardson told officers he had smoked marijuana inside the vehicle to avoid doing so around his children at home.

He also allegedly acknowledged that a small quantity of the substance remained in the car when police stopped him. 

Officers searched the vehicle and reportedly discovered a small Mason jar containing a substance believed to be marijuana, along with an opened bag of THC-infused gummies.

The items were confiscated, and Richardson was briefly placed in handcuffs during the search, although he was not arrested and was later permitted to leave the scene with a citation for the expired registration and a summons to appear in court over the possession allegation.

His initial December 9 court date was canceled and a bench trial was scheduled for early next year and the Colts acknowledged the situation but stopped short of providing further details while gathering information about the incident.

"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."

Richardson’s Colts career continues to collapse

Richardson is in the final year of his rookie contract and has not played in a game this season, and he received permission to explore a trade in February, but no deal materialized, leaving him back in Indianapolis as Daniel Jones' backup.

The quarterback arrived with enormous physical potential after the Colts selected him fourth overall in 2023 after impressing at the NFL Combine standing at 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds, recorded a 40.5-inch vertical leap and posted a 10-foot-9 broad jump.

His athletic testing helped persuade Indianapolis to invest its top pick despite his limited experience, having made only 13 college starts but his professional career, however, has struggled to gain momentum.

Richardson went 2-2 as a starter during his rookie season before a shoulder injury ended his campaign prematurely and expectations remained high entering 2024, but oblique injury then sidelined him in Week 4, and another setback followed against the Houston Texans in Week 8.

Now, with his playing time limited and his contract nearing its end, Richardson faces fresh uncertainty as to the future of his career.