Anthony Richardson Sr., the Indianapolis Colts’ backup quarterback, could face up to four games’ suspension after being charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession. A license plate that didn’t match the car started it, during a traffic stop in Carmel, Indiana. Prosecutors filed the charge Oct. 19, and for now it is only an allegation.
The longer story involves an expired registration, a Mason jar and a bench trial that won’t happen until after the new year.
What the charge says about Anthony Richardson
Richardson, 24, faces one count of possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor. WTHR’s report on online court records says the case sits in Carmel City Court.
Per the probable cause affidavit, a Carmel police officer pulled over a black Dodge Charger on Oct. 12. The stop happened near Springmill Boulevard and Silver Stream Drive, just north of 136th Street. The stated reasons were a license plate that didn’t match the vehicle’s registration and an expired registration.
Richardson was the only person in the car. The officer wrote that he “immediately detected the odor of marijuana,” as WRTV reported from the affidavit.
What police say they found in the Colts QB’s car
According to the affidavit, Richardson told the officer he had smoked marijuana in the car. He said he didn’t want to smoke around his children, and that a small amount was inside.
Police reported finding a small Mason jar in the glove compartment. It held about 5 grams of suspected marijuana, and a bag of THC gummies sat beside it. The suspected marijuana tested positive for THC, and officers collected both items as evidence.
The officer cited Richardson for the expired registration and gave him a summons on the marijuana charge.
What happens next in the case
Richardson waived his initial hearing. A bench trial, meaning a judge decides the case rather than a jury, is set for Jan. 4, 2027, per WTHR. Reports differ slightly on the hearing schedule, so expect the court docket to confirm the calendar.
No statement from Richardson or his representatives has surfaced. The Colts said only that they are “aware of the situation involving Anthony Richardson and are currently gathering additional information.” They added that they will have no further comment, via IndyStar on Yahoo Sports.
Why this matters for the Colts and the NFL
Here’s the thing: the football consequences could land before the legal ones do. IndyStar notes the NFL’s substance abuse policy lets the commissioner discipline players who are convicted of a drug-related legal violation, or who admit to one. A first offense carries a suspension without pay of up to four games. The league has announced nothing, and no reports mention an NFL review.
On the field, the stakes are smaller than the headline suggests. The Colts backup quarterback sits behind Daniel Jones, and he hasn’t played this season.
The Colts named him QB2 on Sept. 3 after a camp and preseason battle with Riley Leonard, who is now the third-stringer. Richardson completed 21 of 33 passes for 249 yards in the preseason.
Still, the timing is awkward for a team already dealing with off-field noise. Per FOX59 via Yahoo, Richardson is the second Colts player with a police run-in this season. Receiver Keenan Allen faced two misdemeanor charges after an August DUI arrest. The front office is also in flux, as we covered when the Colts fired Chris Ballard mid-season.
This is not the only NFL player story about an unexplained off-field problem. Tennessee recently cut Jordan Elliott over an “incident” and said nothing else.
