Indianapolis Colts backup quarterback Anthony Richardson is facing a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge after a traffic stop in Indiana earlier this month. The charge was filed Monday, adding another unexpected development to a difficult stretch in the young quarterback’s NFL career.

According to an affidavit from the Hamilton County prosecutor’s office, an officer pulled Richardson over on Oct. 12 after noticing that the vehicle he was driving had an expired registration tag. The officer also found that the license plate did not match the plate listed on the vehicle’s registration.

But the encounter took another turn when the officer approached the car and detected the smell of marijuana.

Anthony Richardson Marijuana Possession Case: What Police Say Happened

Officer Reports Finding Marijuana and Gummies

The affidavit states that Richardson told the officer he had smoked marijuana inside the vehicle because he did not want to smoke around his children. He also reportedly acknowledged having a small amount of marijuana in the car.

The officer subsequently discovered what the affidavit described as a “leafy, green material” believed to be marijuana, along with a bag containing five marijuana gummies. Both were reportedly found inside a small Mason jar in the vehicle’s glove compartment.

Richardson’s attorney, James Voyles, declined to comment on the case.

The Colts acknowledged the situation but said they were still gathering information.

“We are aware of the situation involving Anthony Richardson and are currently gathering additional information,” the team said in a statement. “We will have no further comment at this time.”

The misdemeanor charge places another question mark over Richardson’s immediate future, although the available information does not establish how the case will ultimately be resolved.

A Promising NFL Career Interrupted by Injuries and Inconsistency

Richardson, who has not appeared in a game since Oct. 5, 2025, entered the NFL with enormous expectations. The Colts selected the former Florida Gators standout with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, betting on his athleticism and potential to become their long-term answer at quarterback.

He won the starting job during his first training camp. However, injuries and inconsistent performances have repeatedly interrupted his progress.

Shoulder Injury Cut Short His Rookie Season

Richardson appeared in only four games during the 2023 season before a shoulder injury ended his rookie campaign prematurely.

He returned in 2024 and started a career-high 11 games, but his passing numbers exposed the challenges he was facing. Richardson completed just 47.7% of his attempts, the lowest completion rate among NFL starters that season. He threw eight touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.

That season also included an unusual moment when Richardson removed himself from a game. He later explained that he had been “tired,” drawing further attention to his development as a young quarterback.

Daniel Jones Takes Control of the Starting Role

Richardson entered the 2025 training camp competing with Daniel Jones for the starting position. Jones ultimately won the job, pushing Richardson into a backup role.

Richardson managed just two total pass attempts across two games before another setback ended his season. A stretching band broke in the locker room before a game, causing a fractured orbital bone near his right eye.

He has not taken another NFL snap since the injury and has requested a trade twice.

This summer, Richardson competed with Riley Leonard for the Colts’ backup position and secured the No. 2 role. Yet Jones has taken every snap this season since returning from a torn right Achilles tendon suffered in December 2025.

For Richardson, the combination of limited playing time, repeated injuries and now a pending misdemeanor charge creates another difficult chapter in a career that has yet to deliver the sustained progress Indianapolis hoped to see.

Colts Face Another Change as Richardson Looks for His Opportunity

The latest development also comes amid upheaval within the Colts organization. Earlier this week, Indianapolis fired longtime general manager Chris Ballard, who was in charge when the franchise selected Richardson in 2023.

Richardson expressed disappointment over Ballard’s departure Wednesday, saying he wanted to demonstrate that the former general manager had made the right decision by drafting him.

“He believed in me enough to have me here, and I’m forever grateful for that,” 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 am waiting on my opportunity.”

The comments reflected Richardson’s desire to prove himself despite the setbacks that have kept him away from the field.

The Colts, meanwhile, are left managing several questions at once: the quarterback’s uncertain playing future, the consequences of the latest legal development and a changing front office.

Richardson’s possession case remains pending, and the team has not offered further comment beyond its initial statement. For a quarterback once viewed as a cornerstone of Indianapolis’ future, the road back to meaningful playing time now runs through both professional uncertainty and a legal process whose outcome remains unknown.