Colts' Anthony Richardson Reportedly Regains Full Vision After Eye Injury Amid NFL Trade Rumors

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson might be looking to improve his trade market by proving his vision has recovered from the accident that injured his right eye last October.

The Athletic's James Boyd reported Thursday that Richardson now has "full vision in his right eye."

The report comes shortly after ESPN's Stephen Holder reported the Colts had given Richardson permission to seek a trade.

Richardson's representatives provided the Colts with medical documentation on his eye Wednesday night, per Boyd.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard told reporters on Tuesday that Richardson was "trending in the right direction" but still had "a ways to go."

"He's cleared to play and the eye's getting better. Just work from there," Ballard said Tuesday, per Colts.com's JJ Stankevitz.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen said in October that Richardson had suffered an orbital fracture after an accident involving elastic stretching bands, per ESPN's Stephen Holder.

Richardson returned to practice in December with lingering "vision limitations in his eye," according to Steichen.

Holder similarly reported that a source said Richardson's "recent consultations with doctors indicate his vision has been restored."

Richardson's reported interest in a trade comes after Ballard confirmed while speaking to reporters ahead of the NFL scouting combine that the Colts intended to re-sign Daniel Jones this offseason.

Jones, who beat out Richardson for the starting job last offseason, led the Colts to an 8-5 record before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 14.

The quarterback underwent surgery on Dec. 9 and faces an estimated recovery timeline of six to eight months, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, putting him on track to potentially return before Week 1 of the 2025 season.

Instead of heading into the season as Jones' projected backup, Richardson could be looking for a team where he might have a greater chance of competing for a starting role.

One potential landing spot for Richardson could be the Minnesota Vikings, with whom JJ McCarthy struggled last season in his first season as starter.

NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe reported Thursday that there is "mutual interest" between Richardson and the Vikings, where head coach Kevin O'Connell could potentially use his experience working with quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold to help revive Richardson's career.

The Athletic's Alec Lewis noted that the Vikings liked Richardson back when the Colts selected him with the No. 4 pick of the 2023 draft.

Lewis wrote that the Vikings "are primarily targeting a QB with more experience, production, reliability and higher floor," but noted that "adding two QBs of different ages/pedigree/production/upside is very much in play."

News that Richardson's vision has fully recovered from his injury could potentially impact how much the Vikings, or another interested team, are willing to give up in order to acquire Richardson.

The quarterback has made just 15 starts over three NFL seasons, but whoever he is playing for this fall could hope to help him fulfill the athletic potential he showed at Florida during a healthier 2026 campaign.

Richardson, who will turn 24 in May, has one year remaining on his rookie contract. His $23.5 million fifth-year option has to be decided on by May 1, per Spotrac.