Colts need to stick with Anthony Richardson despite his uneven play

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Anthony Richardson's return to game action didn't go according to plan.

He missed throws, struggled to get in rhythm and led only one touchdown drive. Whether it was rustiness, the lingering effects of a right hip injury, Miami's blitz-happy defense, bad luck or part of his learning curve, the Colts know one thing.

Richardson needs the snaps and the team must live with the results — good, bad or ugly. And his performance in Sunday's 16-10 win over the Dolphins may not have been as erratic as it appeared at first glance.

“They were coming off a bye week and so we saw one un-scouted look that they brought, that they got us on," coach Shane Steichen said after watching the game tape Monday. “But I think Anthony did a hell of a job, not taking the sacks. I think that kind of goes unnoticed a lot of times. He's spinning out of it and making a play, a throwaway.”

It all matters, though Richardson's critics prefer pointing to his less-than-eye-popping numbers.

The former Florida star is 5-4 in nine career starts and he's finished just five of those games. Despite his impressive arm strength, Richardson's career completion percentage is just 53.1% and he's thrown for 1,360 yards, six TDs and seven interceptions while losing six fumbles.

Yes, Richardson took some lumps Sunday — most young quarterbacks do, especially against top-notch defenses. So naturally there may be times fans would rather see 39-year-old Joe Flacco behind center for playoff-contending Indy (4-3).

But barring another injury, the Colts can't afford to sit Richardson even when he's not on top of his game. After going 10 of 24 for 129 yards and losing a fumble against the Dolphins, he's now completed 10 or fewer passes in three wins this season.

Can the Colts make the playoffs if Richardson continues to play this way? Perhaps.

He rushed 14 times for 56 yards against Miami and if All-Pro running back Jonathan Taylor returns soon from the sprained ankle that has kept him out three straight weeks, the Colts' run game could cause major problems for defense.

It's up to Steichen and the Colts to figure out how to get the most out of their franchise quarterback as he grows into the role.

“I didn’t do a good enough job offensively,” Steichen said of Sunday's play-calling. “I’ve got to put him in better positions. You go back, and we’ll watch the tape, but I mean, there wasn’t a lot of stuff open when I was out there watching it. So that’s on me. I’ve got to be better.”

Scoring defense. Indy's defense has largely managed to keep opponents out of the end zone — as they did again Sunday, albeit against the NFL's lowest-scoring team. The Colts yielded one TD and one field goal while forcing two turnovers, giving the offense a chance to win.

Play-calling. Steichen repeatedly blamed himself for the lack of productivity and while it wasn't just him, something has gone wrong when a team produces only 284 total yards over 60 minutes and 36 points over eight quarters.

RB Tyler Goodson. With Taylor and Trey Sermon (knee) out, Goodson has provided a spark for the Colts' ground game. He rushed 14 times for 51 yards and scored Indy's only touchdown against Miami on a 7-yard run in the third quarter.

Tight ends. Steichen kept four tight ends on the active roster and another on the practice squad, but it's been hard to tell. Will Mallory's 5-yard catch in the second quarter was the only reception of the day by a tight end.

The Colts begin another week dealing with questions about Taylor, LB E.J. Speed (knee) and All-Pro DeForest Buckner (ankle). Steichen said Monday he's optimistic about Taylor and Buckner returning to practice this week. The new addition to Indy's injury list is LB Jaylon Carlies, who did not return after hurting his ankle in the first half. Steichen said he expects Carlies to miss some time.

19 — Speed's knee injury kept one of the NFL's top tacklers on the sideline, but it opened the door for Grant Stuard to fill in and he didn't disappoint. Stuard, who has mostly played on special teams during his four NFL seasons, made or assisted on a career-high 19 tackles to give him 26 in his career.

The Colts have moved into contention in the AFC South by winning four of five, all one-possession games. If they do it again next weekend at Houston (5-2), they'll split the season series and move into a tie atop the division.

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Indianapolis Colts place kicker Matt Gay (7) kicks a field goal as punter Rigoberto Sanchez (8) holds during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen, right, and Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel congratulate each other after an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Miami Dolphins linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (6) tackles Indianapolis Colts tight end Will Mallory (86) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson (31) scores during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin (44) and cornerback Jaylon Jones (40) take down Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (31) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) runs for yardage during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024 in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

NEW YORK (AP) — Jury selection began Monday in the trial of a U.S. Marine Corps veteran charged with manslaughter for placing a man in a deadly chokehold on a New York City subway train last year.

Daniel Penny, 25, is accused of “recklessly causing the death” of Jordan Neely, a 30-year-old former street performer. Witnesses say Neely was acting erratically on the train on May 1, 2023, when Penny moved to restrain him.

Penny has pleaded not guilty in the case, which sparked debate and division locally and across the country.

After the death of Neely, who was Black, protesters demanded that authorities arrest Penny, who is white. Others rallied in support of Penny outside the courthouse once he was charged. The case also became a cause célèbre among Republican presidential hopefuls.

Penny, who served four years in the Marines before being discharged in 2021, has been free on a $100,000 bond. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of second-degree manslaughter and up to four years if convicted of criminally negligent homicide.

An initial group of 136 potential jurors were brought into the Manhattan courtroom Monday for a first round of screening focused on whether they have work or family obligations that could keep them from serving on a trial that's expected to continue into December.

When the first group of people were asked whether any had heard of the case, nearly everyone in the packed courtroom raised a hand to indicate yes.

“Not a surprise,” Judge Maxwell Wiley said.

“Even if you have formed an opinion about it, that does not disqualify you from serving on this case,” he said, adding that anyone who is picked for the jury must keep an open mind.

Penny, at times when prompted by the judge, briefly stood and waved to prospective jurors and greeted them with a soft “good morning” or “good afternoon.”

Otherwise, he sat mostly facing the judge in his blue suit and maroon tie as potential jurors were called up individually to the bench to explain their potential scheduling issues.

Those asking not to be placed on the jury cited holiday travel plans, faraway weddings, house moves and other personal obligations.

By the end of the day, some 45 people were asked to return for the next stage in the screening on Friday; the rest were excused.

The selection process is expected to continue Tuesday, and it will likely be days before prospective jurors are questioned about any beliefs, personal connections or life experiences that could affect their ability to serve fairly and impartially.

Witnesses to the incident said Neely — who struggled with drug addiction, mental illness and homelessness — had been shouting and demanding money when Penny approached him.

Penny pinned Neely to the ground with the help of two other passengers, and placed him in a chokehold for more than three minutes until Neely’s body went limp. The medical examiner’s office ruled the death a homicide caused by compression of the neck.

Neely’s father, Andre Zachery, was among those in courtroom audience Monday. The family's lawyer, Donte Mills, said outside court that Zachery is feeling hurt and seeking justice for his son.

“This is going to be a very simple case that’s easy for the jury to deliberate on," Mills said. “The facts of the case is this: someone got on the train and was screaming, and someone choked that person to death. Those things will never balance out and there’s no justification that can make those things balance out.”

Penny’s lawyers have argued that the Long Island native didn’t intend to kill Neely, just to hold him down long enough for police to arrive. Penny has claimed Neely shouted, “I’m gonna kill you” and that he was “ready to die” or go to jail for life.

“We feel that the truth is only going to come out through this trial," Steven Raiser, one of Penny’s lawyers, said outside court. "There’s a lot of evidence that people aren’t aware of. There’s a lot of assumptions that have been made that are going to be dispelled once we have all the evidence.”

Raiser has said the defense plans to offer up other potential causes of Neely’s death, including high levels of the synthetic cannabinoid known as K2 found in his body.

They’ll also argue that video shared widely on social media proves Penny was not applying pressure consistently enough to render Neely unconscious, much less kill him.

Penny's lawyers said Monday that they hadn't decided whether he will testify.

Prosecutors, in their court filings, have argued that Penny’s actions were reckless and negligent even if he didn’t intend to kill Neely. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office declined to comment ahead of the trial.

Follow Philip Marcelo at twitter.com/philmarcelo. Associated Press writer Jennifer Peltz contributed.

Daniel Penny leaves the courtroom during a break in New York, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. Jury selection is set to begin in the criminal trial of the U.S. Marine Corps veteran who placed a man in a deadly chokehold aboard a New York City subway train last year. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Daniel Penny arrives to Manhattan criminal court in New York, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A woman yells and holds up a picture of Jordan Neely just before Daniel Penny arrives to Manhattan criminal court in New York, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Daniel Penny arrives to Manhattan criminal court in New York, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. Jury selection is set to begin in the criminal trial of the U.S. Marine Corps veteran who placed a man in a deadly chokehold aboard a New York City subway train last year. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

A woman yells and holds up a picture of Jordan Neely just before Daniel Penny arrives to Manhattan criminal court in New York, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Daniel Penny arrives to Manhattan criminal court in New York, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Daniel Penny arrives to Manhattan criminal court in New York, Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)