INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts backup quarterback Anthony Richardson faces a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession following a traffic stop earlier this month. The charge was filed Monday.
The affidavit from the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office says a trooper stopped Richardson on Oct. 12 because the car he was driving had an expired registration tag. The car’s license plate also did not match the one shown on the registration.
The officer wrote that when he approached the vehicle, he smelled marijuana.
According to the affidavit, Richardson admitted he smoked marijuana inside the car because he did not want to smoke it in the presence of his children. The officer wrote that Richardson said he had a small amount of marijuana in the car. The officer said he found a “green, leafy material” that he believed to be marijuana as well as a bag of five marijuana gummies in a small mason jar in the glove box of the car.
Richardson’s attorney, James Voyles, declined to comment on the case.
“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 has not played a single game since October 5, 2025.
The Colts (2-4) selected the former Florida Gators star No. 4 overall in the 2023 draft. But after winning the starting job in his first training camp, he was plagued by injuries and inconsistency.
Richardson only played in four games in 2023 before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He started a career-high 11 games in 2024, but completed just 47.7% of his passes, the lowest among all NFL starters that season, and threw eight touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. He also pulled out of a game that season, later admitting he was “tired.”
In 2025, Daniel Jones beat out Richardson for the starting job in training camp. Richardson ultimately threw just two passes total in two games before suffering a fractured orbital bone near his right eye when a stretching band broke in the locker room before a game. He hasn’t played a single snap since and has made two trade requests.
This summer, Richardson beat out Riley Leonard for the No. 2 job in training camp. But Jones has taken every snap this season since returning from a torn right Achilles tendon he suffered last December.
Earlier this week, the Colts fired longtime general manager Chris Ballard – who was leading the team when Richardson was drafted. On Wednesday, Richardson said he was disappointed with the change and wanted to prove Ballard was right to draft him.
“He believed in me enough to have me here, and I will be forever grateful,” Richardson said. “I’m trying to do my part and not make him feel like he made the wrong decision. So I’m just trying to keep getting better every week and waiting for my opportunity.”
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