Anthony Richardson didn’t play much as a rookie before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury that limited him to just four games.

But he is healthy entering his second season and has a good chance of excelling in 2024.

Veteran center Ryan Kelly told reporters earlier this week that Richardson has shown more qualities of an established starter over the course of the offseason program and training camp.

“I think the leadership has really started to show,” Kelly said, according to the team’s transcript. “It’s holding guys accountable, using snap count, changing up the protections. The things that a first-year starting quarterback with minimal college experience probably does — you don’t expect that now and every time. But the work he’s put in, attending meetings last year when he was injured, the offseason, the couple practices he’s had here — I think you can really see it.

“I saw it today. It just kind of surprised me. I just thought, man, it’s cool to see him really grow into this role, and this is the role that they really need him to play.”

Richardson and most of Indianapolis’ other regular players will play in the season opener against Denver this weekend.