Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is hoping to return in the season finale against the Jaguars.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson said he suffered pain so intense last week that he had trouble walking.

The 22-year-old appears to be feeling much better this week, possibly even well enough to start Sunday’s season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After missing last weekend’s playoff elimination loss Against the New York Giants, Richardson stood his ground Wednesday, answering questions for about six minutes while explaining that he hopes to return this week.

“I definitely feel a lot better,” Richardson said. “Just lower back stuff. Last week was hard. On Tuesday I couldn’t even get up, I was like crawling around the house. But you know I’m standing.”

And yet coach Shane Steichen He was still saying late last week that Richardson had been dealing with back pain and could still play.

Richardson explained that he has been dealing with back spasms since eighth grade and MRIs have shown that he has problems with his discs, causing pain intermittently.

The former Florida star has also battled injuries during his first two seasons in the NFL. A concussion and season-ending shoulder injury limited him to just four starts as a rookie. He missed two games in October with a hip injury. He was benched for two games in November after retiring from one game. for one play because he was tired and then missed last weekend, leaving him 8-7 as a starter.

The Colts opted to hold a workout Wednesday and Steichen did not project whether Richardson would have participated in a full workout if the Colts (7-9) had held a regular practice.

Still, Colts players and Steichen remain hopeful that Richardson will play this week even though his postseason fate has been sealed.

“We’re hopeful,” Steichen said. “He is working on his rehabilitation and treatment right now. So we’ll see how this week goes.”

Richardson also wants to play and not just prove to those who have questioned both his consistency (he has a league-low 47.7% completion rate with 12 interceptions and eight touchdowns) and his ability to stay healthy.

Instead, Richardson wants to prove he can beat the Jags (4-12) and close out the season with another win.

“It’s tough, especially seeing us lose like we did with everything on the table for us,” Richardson said. “It only matters how you defend yourself and how you respond to certain things.”

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