Richardson starts fast, Packers finish strong to rally past Colts 23-19 in preseason

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson again showed glimpses of his potential Saturday.

He also demonstrated those same frustrating miscues again, too.

Richardson played nearly the entire second quarter, capped the Colts’ best drive of the preseason with the first touchdown of the game before the Green Bay Packers rallied late for a 23-19 victory in what could be the final chance to impress coach Shane Steichen.

“I’d like to have a decision here shortly,” Steichen said when asked when he’d decide whether Richardson or Daniel Jones would start the Sept. 7 opener against Miami. “I’m very close. I’ll say that. I’m very close.”

Richardson went 6 of 11 with 73 yards, no interceptions or fumbles. Tyson Goodson scored the Colts' lone TD on a 3-yard run. Richardson also took advantage of a fumble recovery to set up the second of Spencer Shrader’s four field goals and perhaps most important avoided another injury.

Daniel Jones played the first two series and went 7 of 11 with 101 yards for the Colts (0-2).

Each has now started — and lost — a preseason game, this time because of Sean Clifford’s 11-yard TD run with 1:31 to go.

“It was a great drive at the end of the game, and he was able to use his legs a little bit on some keepers and was able to get into the end zone,” Packers coach Matt laFleur said, referring to Clifford.

Jason Bean led the Colts to the Packers 31-yard line in the final minute, but came up short on a fourth down pass after a replay review.

Green Bay (1-1) used Israel Abanikanda's 3-yard TD run in the third quarter to get within 13-10 and Amar Johnson’s 9-yard TD run tied the score at 16 because of a missed extra point.

LaFleur held out 29 players, including quarterback Jordan Love two days after the teams held a joint practice. Love had surgery to repair a ligament in his left thumb earlier this week.

Malik Willis went 6 of 14 with 83 yards in place of Love. Clifford ran twice for 19 yards.

LaFleur held out 29 players including quarterback Jordan Love just two days after a joint practice to close Indy’s training camp. Love had surgery to repair a ligament in his left thumb earlier this week.

But with Indy’s quarterback competition still in play, Steichen opted to play most of his starters into the second quarter. While Jones made quick decisions and was mostly on target, Richardson sprinkled in some impressive throws and runs with some bad misses and some poor decisions.

“Second quarter went fast, but thought I had a smooth rhythm out there,” Richardson said. “It doesn’t matter what I think. At the end of the day, it’s up to them. I’ve been trying to put my best step forward, trying to grow each and every step of the way.”

The Colts lost their top two right tackles to injuries. Braden Smith, the starter, left with a groin injury in the first half. Smith’s backup, Blake Freeland, was carted off the field with a fractured lower right leg in the second quarter.

Abanikanda led a 159-yard rushing attack for Green Bay with 12 carries for 43 yards.

While the Packers largely cleaned up the drops from last week's preseason opener, the penalty flags continued to fly. The Packers finished with 12 penalties, and nobody had it rougher than backup right tackle Anthony Belton. The rookie was flagged five times in the first half — two illegal formations, one false start, an unnecessary roughness and a face mask.

“I did think he bounced back in the second half, so that’s encouraging,” LaFleur said. "But there's certainly a lot to coach.”

The Colts finished with 11 penalties for 103 yards.

Indy also lost rookie safety-linebacker Hunter Wohler with a foot injury, cornerback Johnathan Edwards with a concussion and linebacker Jacob Phillips with a bicep injury.

The Packers have another joint practice this week with Seattle before closing out the preseason against the Seahawks next Saturday.

Indy visits Cincinnati next Saturday.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson (31) is tackled by Indianapolis Colts linebacker Austin Ajiake (58) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Green Bay Packers running back Israel Abanikanda (23) celebrates a touchdown with quarterback Taylor Elgersma (19) and wide receiver Julian Hicks (81) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) throws during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (5) is tackled by Green Bay Packers linebacker Isaiah Simmons (28) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (5) is sacked by Green Bay Packers defensive end Deslin Alexandre (49) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

BOSTON (AP) — When Zdeno Chara signed with the Boston Bruins in 2006, the No. 3 he wore early in his career had already been retired by the Original Six franchise.

So he picked No. 33 without giving it much thought.

“Little did I know how meaningful 33 was,” Chara said on Thursday night before his number was raised to the TD Garden rafters not far from where Larry Bird's No. 33 already hangs in Celtics green.

It is the 13th number retired by the Bruins, and the latest in a collection of Hall of Fame defenseman that runs from Eddie Shore to Bobby Orr to Raymond Bourque.

“It's a huge honor,” Chara told reporters. "I can’t explain to you how honored I feel. I’m humbled about being selected to be one of the numbers being retired. Being with that history, forever."

The 2009 Norris Trophy winner and a 2025 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Chara spent 14 of his 24 NHL seasons in Boston, leading the Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup championship. His 1,680 games is the most of any NHL defenseman; at 6 feet, 9 inches (2.06m), he is the tallest player in league history, and his 108.8 mph (175.1 kmh) slap shot in the 2012 skills competition remains the NHL record.

But his teammates and other Bruins attending Thursday's ceremony said Chara's biggest contribution was signing with a team that hadn't won a playoff series in six years — “the best decision I ever made” — and turning them into champions.

“Things really changed when Zee came here as a free agent,” Bourque said. "From that point on, the culture and everything that comes with that, and the success and the run that they had, he was such a big part of that.

“He’s a legend,” Bourque said. “He really deserves to be up there.”

Bourque was among the former Bruins greats in attendance, along with Orr — both of them, like Chara, Boston defensemen who finished their careers elsewhere on their way to the Hall of Fame. They arrived via gold carpet that led them past adoring fans and the statue of Orr flying through the air following his Cup-winning goal in the 1970 finals.

Other fellow retired number honorees in attendance included Cam Neely, Willie O’Ree, Rick Middleton, Terry O'Reilly and John Bucyk. The current Bruins sat on the bench, all wearing Chara jerseys.

Five members of the 2011 roster — Patrice Bergeron, Mark Recchi, Dennis Seidenberg, David Krejci and Tuukka Rask — carried the retired number onto the ice, and teammate Andrew Ference served as emcee.

In his speech, Chara read the names of every player on the Bruins last Cup winners. Asked why, he said after: “Without championships, you are not going to be successful, you’re not going to be recognized.

"The championships, that’s what they do. They raise everyone, they extend careers for everyone,” he explained. "They create dynasties. They create stories. They create memories. They created what we’re experiencing tonight.

"It’s very simple: Once you win the championship, everything gets so much better for everyone. And the most beautiful thing about it: You create extended families with each other. It’s true. You have bonds, you have friendships that are now still forever. It’s amazing; it’s like you’re seeing your brother. You trust the person; you know everything about them. And anytime anybody needs something, you’re there for them.

“That’s what winning championships do,” he said. “Not just for a career, but for the rest of your lives, it means something very special.”

The ceremony at center ice featured a “Big Zee” ice sculpture flanking the podium and a large No. 33 behind it. Fans were asked to get in their seats two hours early, and the full TD Garden erupted in a giant shout of “Zee!” followed by an extended cheer of “Thank you, Chara!”

A highlight video featured former Bruins Brad Marchand and current coach Marco Sturm, Chara's teammate from 2006-10. Many of them spoke of the way Chara led by example.

“He wasn’t really a ‘Rah, rah!’ guy,” former Bruins forward and current team president Neely said, “but when he spoke, it was with a purpose.”

And so, when it was time to raise his No. 33 to the rafters, Chara stood by with his wife, Tatiana, while their children — Zack, Ben and Elliz — pulled the ropes.

“That’s the biggest reward for me: To see my children and my family doing it instead of me. I think I get better joy watching them doing it than the joy of me doing it because it's so much more meaningful,” he explained. "They deserve that more than me."

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara speaks during his number retirement ceremony before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara leads his family over to his number "33" to raise it to the rafters before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, center, waves to the crowd during his number retirement ceremony, as Bruins' players with their number already retired, from left, Willie O'Ree, Rick Middleton, Terrry O'Reilly, Cam Neely, emcee Andrew Ferrance and Bobby Orr look on before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara's number "33" is raised to the rafters at TD Garden before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

Bobby Orr applauds, left bottom, as former Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara waves to the crowd during his number retirement ceremony before an NHL hockey game between the Boston Bruins and the Seattle Kraken, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)