Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson got his first taste of the NFL last week when he made his preseason debut against the Buffalo Bills. All eyes were on the No. 4 pick from the 2023 NFL Draft to see how he reacted to his first professional game.

The results for Richardson were mixed, as many would expect. He completed 7-of-12 passes for 67 yards, throwing one interception. Richardson also ran the ball twice for seven yards before giving way to Gardner Minshew and Sam Ehlinger.

Despite the shaky outing, it was enough for Colts head coach Shane Steichen to announce him as the starting quarterback in the regular season. It was an announcement even Richardson was surprised by, but he is looking forward to having the chance to learn and develop.

As a rookie without a ton of prior experience, there will certainly be a steep learning curve for the Florida product. He has all of the physical attributes to succeed at this level, it just needs to be developed and honed in.

Despite how raw he is, there are some people who believe that Richardson will help the Colts win some games immediately. One of those players is former Colts cornerback, Darius Butler, as Richardson caught his attention in his preseason debut.

“Definitely still passed the eye test. I expected some type of struggles obviously, being a rookie quarterback. Didn’t play a ton, even in college, so there will be some growing pains, but he has that athletic ability to extend plays and make plays. He made some great throws, honestly, in that game.

“He definitely passed the eye test. There will be some struggles this year, but I think we will still be good enough to win at least eight, nine games in the AFC South.” (H/T MSN)

Those are certainly some lofty expectations that Butler has set for his former team in the 2023 season. If the Colts are able to win eight or nine games, they will be right in the thick of things for a playoff spot in the AFC South.

While Richardson would certainly be relied upon to help raise the level of play on offense, the biggest issue facing the Colts right now is the availability of running back Jonathan Taylor. Taylor is away from the team as he rehabs his ankle injury off-site after a standoff about his contract.

If the Colts are going to find consistent success with Richardson under center in 2023, they need Taylor in the lineup and producing as he did in 2021.