INDIANAPOLIS — Anthony Richardson has developed a new part of his pregame routine.
The Colts quarterback was spotted warming up with a rugby ball before Sunday’s 38-30 win over the Titans, but he’s actually been using a rugby ball to warm up for a while now.
Richardson got the idea from watching Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels warm up with a basketball.
“I started doing that probably a month, a month and a half ago,” Richardson said. “I actually saw Jayden Daniels doing something with a basketball, and I heard something about his hands adjusting to the bigger elements.”
A basketball didn’t feel enough like a football to Richardson.
“I thought about getting a rugby ball, it’s kind of football-shaped, allowing my hands to adjust to the rugby ball, it being bigger,” Richardson said. “When I get the football, it’s like a NERF ball in my hand.”
Richardson is more comfortable throwing the ball when it feels like a NERF in his hand, and he believes it has helped his accuracy, although the results haven’t always shown up in the numbers. The Colts quarterback completed 7 of 11 throws for 131 yards, one touchdown and an interception against the Titans on Sunday, bringing his completion percentage to 51.1% since returning to the lineup after his two-week benching, compared to 44.3% before the team’s decision to briefly sit him down.
The 22-year-old quarterback has even convinced his backups, 39-year-old Joe Flacco and fourth-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger, to use the rugby ball in warmups.
“Sam and Joe, they’ve been using it with me,” Richardson said. “It feels like it’s been helping.”
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) warms up before an Indianapolis Colts game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson uses a rugby ball in warmups
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2024-12-23 05:45:18
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