Going up against the Indianapolis Colts this week means that the New England Patriots will face a quarterback who very much deserves to be labeled as a “specimen.” Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall selection in last year’s draft, is one of the most physically gifted QBs in all of football.

Besides having a rocket launcher for an arm, the 22-year-old also is as good an athlete as you will ever find playing the most important position in the game. Look no further than the perfect 10.0 Relative Athletic Score he earned during his Scouting Combine performance.

Despite his rare physical attributes, Richardson — just like the Colts offense as a whole — has struggled so far his sophomore season. However, there is no denying his talent and big play ability.

How did the Patriots prepare for that? Enter third-string rookie Joe Milton.

“Joe definitely does a really good job of giving us those looks,” said Patriots defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery earlier this week. “Chasing him around is tough. He’s a pretty good athlete himself.”

“It helps a lot,” added inside linebackers coach Dont’a Hightower. “Joe’s been great for us all year. Really emulating a lot of what Richardson does — another bigger guy, athletic, and can throw the ball as far as you can see.”

Even though he is a valuable resource in practice, and a three-time Practice Player of the Week selection this year, Milton’s role will once more be a passive one on Sunday. As the Patriots’ third-string quarterback, he will be made a healthy game day inactive to serve as emergency depth behind starter Drake Maye and veteran backup Jacoby Brissett.

It is a role Milton has held effectively since his arrival in New England.

Drafted 193rd overall by the Patriots earlier this year, Milton entered the NFL with significantly less fanfare than Richardson. He was the ninth quarterback off the board and second taken by his own team after Maye at No. 3.

Nonetheless, he too has some intriguing skills to work with particularly as far as his arm talent is concerned: like Richardson, Milton can also absolutely sling the ball. Accordingly, he is the perfect scout team passer to prepare the defense what it is about to see from, as Jerod Mayo put it, the Colts’ GTFB — “get the f–k back” — QB.

“Joe’s done a phenomenal job being the show team quarterback this week. He’s another one where it’s GTFB when he has the ball in his hands,” Mayo said on Friday. “It’s been good practice.”