Anthony Richardson is back in the mix for the Colts, and now he’s climbed to the spot behind Daniel Jones.
Indianapolis named Richardson its primary backup quarterback on Thursday, beating out Riley Leonard for the No. 2 job.
Richardson said the promotion meant a lot to him. “I'm just blessed to continue to find a way in this league, continue to find my way on the roster,” Richardson said, according to Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. “I'm just thankful that they believe in me enough to promote me to QB2.”
The preseason numbers showed a clear edge for Richardson. He went 21 of 33 for 249 yards and an interception, while also adding 68 rushing yards and a touchdown. Leonard finished 20-for-42 passing for 199 yards and two interceptions.
Head coach Shane Steichen pointed to the work both quarterbacks put in throughout camp. “I thought (Richardson) did some good things through camp,” Steichen said.
“He's continued to develop and grow. ... And same thing with Riley.”
He also stressed the unpredictability of the position. “You never know when their number will be called.”
Richardson’s path back to this role has not been smooth. His future with the Colts looked uncertain after he requested a trade in February, and the 24-year-old has had a tough start since going fourth overall in the 2023 draft. In 17 games, he has thrown for 2,400 yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while rushing for 634 yards and 10 scores.
The Colts open the season at home against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13.
In Other News...
Naji Marshall Joins NBA Pushback Over Disrespectful T.J. McConnell Take
A podcast debate about one-on-one basketball has turned into an unexpected defense of T.J. McConnell, with Nasir Core saying the game is harder than the NBA level and insisting the Indiana Pacers guard would lose a one-on-one matchup. The take did not sit well with several players who know the league firsthand, and the pushback came quickly from current and former NBA voices who were willing to call out the oversimplification.
Naji Marshall was among those who publicly disagreed, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kenyon Martin and Patrick Beverley in backing McConnells NBA pedigree. The response says as much about the respect McConnell has earned around the league as it does about the debate itself, since the conversation has drifted away from streetball hypotheticals and toward the basic question of whether someone with McConnells rsum should ever be reduced to a would he win one-on-one punchline. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Face An Early Roster Squeeze Fans Will Notice
The Pacers are expected to open the season a man short on the standard roster count, a byproduct of the hard cap that has shaped their offseason planning. Indiana is set to carry 14 standard contracts at the start, with the possibility of adding a 15th player later if the financial picture allows, so every final decision on the bench and the back end of the roster carries a little more weight than usual.
That kind of squeeze is the sort of thing fans notice once the games start and the rotation tightens. Around the league, teams are juggling their own roster and staff decisions as the season nears, but for Indiana the bigger issue is simple depth and flexibility, and whether the Pacers can navigate the early part of the year without having to live with an uncomfortable numbers game for long. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Rebuild Now Hinges On One Uncomfortable Draft Debate
The Pacers rebuild has taken on a more uncomfortable edge because the conversation is no longer just about Tyrese Haliburton carrying the offense, but about whether the draft has delivered enough around him. Indiana used valuable first-round capital on Jarace Walker at No. 8 and Ben Sheppard at No. 26 in 2023, after taking Chris Mathurin at No. 6 in an earlier draft, and the idea was to build a young core that could grow alongside its point guard. Instead, those picks have yet to become the kind of reliable, high-impact pieces a contender needs.
Jarace Walker and Ben Sheppard still represent hope for Indiana, but the timing of those selections matters just as much as the players themselves. The Pacers needed those swings to come through quickly, and with the roster already trying to keep pace in a tightening Eastern Conference race, every missed chance to add an impact player makes the path harder. That leaves the front office staring at a familiar dilemma: the next step in the rebuild may depend on whether those picks can finally turn promise into production. [Read more 🡒]