The Wildest NFL Injury of 2025: How Anthony Richardson Broke His Face with a Resistance Band

If you thought NFL injuries only happened from bone-crunching tackles or awkward landings, think again. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson proved that sometimes the biggest threats lurk in the locker room—specifically, in the form of a humble resistance band.

Back on October 12, 2025, just about an hour before kickoff against the Arizona Cardinals, Richardson was doing his usual pregame routine: stretching with a thick elastic resistance band (you know, those heavy-duty workout loops, not the little office ones).

He anchored the band to a pole or bar in the locker room, pulled back for a stretch… and disaster struck. The anchor point snapped under the tension, causing the band to whip back like a slingshot and smack him square in the face.

The result? A fractured orbital bone—that’s the bony socket protecting your eyeball. Ouch. Richardson was immediately ruled out for the game, rushed to the hospital, and later placed on Injured Reserve after needing surgery to fix the damage.

Where Things Stand Now (December 2025)

Fast forward to mid-December, and Richardson is still on IR. He’s making progress—swelling is down, and he’s back in the weight room a bit—but doctors aren’t rushing him. Head coach Shane Steichen has stressed the importance of ensuring full vision before any return to football activities. There’s no clear timeline, and it’s possible he won’t play again this season.

This comes at a brutal time for the Colts, whose QB room has been decimated by injuries (leading to the wild comeback of 44-year-old Philip Rivers). Richardson, once the hopeful franchise QB, has now added this to a growing list of setbacks since being drafted.

The Internet’s Reaction? Pure Memes

Fans quickly dubbed it the “resistance band rebellion” or joked about banning AR from all workout equipment. It’s absurdly unlucky—non-contact, pregame, and entirely avoidable. But hey, it reminds us that even pro athletes aren’t immune to everyday gym fails… just on a much more painful (and public) scale.

Moral of the story: Next time you’re stretching, double-check that anchor point. Or maybe just stick to jogging in place. Stay safe out there, folks—and here’s hoping Richardson gets back on the field soon, minus any rogue rubber bands!