Colts QB Anthony Richardson faces misdemeanor marijuana possession charge after traffic stop

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson is facing a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession after a traffic stop earlier this month in Carmel, Indiana, according to court records and a police affidavit reported by USA Today, NFL.com and CBS Sports. He was cited, not arrested, and the case has not been decided.

The news landed during an already turbulent week for the Colts, who fired longtime general manager Chris Ballard, the executive who drafted Richardson.

What happened at the traffic stop?

According to the affidavit from the Hamilton County prosecutor’s office, a Carmel officer pulled Richardson over on Monday, Oct. 12, one day after the Colts lost to the Steelers in Pittsburgh, because the car he was driving had an expired registration tag, and the plate didn’t match the registration, NFL.com reported.

The officer wrote that he smelled marijuana as he approached the car. Per the affidavit, Richardson said he had been smoking in the car because he did not want to smoke around his children, and he told the officer he had “a small amount of marijuana” in the vehicle, USA Today reported.

USA Today reported that police detained Richardson in handcuffs during a search, which turned up a Mason jar with “green, leafy material suspected to be marijuana” and an unopened bag of THC gummies. NFL.com’s report described five gummies in a small Mason jar in the glove compartment, so details of the affidavit vary slightly between outlets.

Richardson was cited for the expired registration and given a court summons for possession, according to USA Today and CBS Sports.

What is the charge, and when is the trial?

The Hamilton County prosecutor’s office filed the charge on Monday, Oct. 19, according to public records cited by USA Today. Recreational marijuana possession is illegal in Indiana, and for a first offender it is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000, USA Today reported.

Richardson’s attorney, James Voyles, filed a motion to waive the initial hearing on Oct. 22, and it was granted on Oct. 23. A bench trial is scheduled for Jan. 4, 2027, according to USA Today. Voyles declined to comment on the case, NFL.com reported.

Richardson has not been convicted, and the reports did not include any public comment from him about the charge.

What did the Colts say?

“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.”

Could the NFL suspend him?

Possibly, but nothing has been announced. Under the NFL’s policy on substances of abuse, players “convicted of or admitting to a violation of law” involving marijuana use or possession are subject to league discipline, and a first-time offender could face up to a four-game suspension under league guidelines, USA Today reported.

Where does Richardson stand with the Colts?

The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft has not played in a game since Oct. 5, 2025, NFL.com reported. He beat out Riley Leonard for the backup job in training camp and sits behind starter Daniel Jones, who has taken every snap this season after returning from a torn Achilles.

CBS Sports noted that Richardson is in the final year of his rookie deal and was given permission to seek a trade in February, but no deal materialized.

Earlier this week, Richardson said he was disappointed by Ballard’s firing. “He believed in me enough to have me here, and I’m forever grateful for that,” he said, per NFL.com. “I’m just trying to keep getting better every week and am waiting on my opportunity.”

FAQ