Anthony Richardson Sr. says he’s not really sure where things stand with his trade request, and that uncertainty is hanging over him as the Colts head into their preseason opener at New England.
Richardson asked for a trade in February, but he later found out the market wasn’t exactly booming for a quarterback in his spot. On Sunday, he offered the clearest update yet on how little has changed.
"I haven’t really talked to my agent about that recently," Richardson said about his trade request, per Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. "I haven’t really talked to anyone about that recently, so I’m not necessarily sure what’s going on with that."
The Colts’ quarterback picture has shifted sharply since then. Indianapolis signed Daniel Jones to a two-year, $88M deal earlier this offseason, a contract that could climb to $100M.
Jones missed spring work while recovering from the torn Achilles tendon he suffered in December, but Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated recently reported that "Jones looks close to being all the way back from injury" and is on track to play Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13.
That leaves Richardson in a very different spot than the one he entered the offseason in. ESPN’s Stephen Holder said Sunday that Richardson "finds himself in a fight for the Colts' No. 2 quarterback spot" against 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard. The two are expected to split snaps Thursday against the Patriots.
For Richardson, the preseason is about getting back into rhythm and stacking clean reps.
"(Thursday) is just about continuing my repetition and the work I’ve been putting in," Richardson explained. "I feel like being out there managing the game and processing the live action plays, that can help me get back into the groove and feel everything out.
I’m excited for it. I’ve been preparing for it.
We’ll see what’s going on Thursday."
The 2023 first-round pick also said he’s focused on sharpening his play, especially against New England.
"I feel like I can improve a lot of things," Richardson added. "My decision making, I feel like I'm on point with the ball, and I feel like I'm [throwing] to the right spot. Sometimes I don't throw the best ball, but I feel like my decision making is pretty good so far."
In Other News...
Colts Suddenly Have A Daniel Jones Problem They Cant Ignore
Daniel Jones has been giving the Colts a steady showing at training camp, and that matters more than ever for a team trying to build some confidence behind center. The problem is what comes next. Indianapolis has been rotating the QB2 reps between Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson, and the early returns have left the staff with more questions than answers about who could keep the offense on schedule if Jones were to miss time.
Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter has already pointed to the uneven play from the backups, and the concern is less about one bad day than about a pattern that has surfaced throughout camp. Leonard has had stretches where he looks fine, then slips out of rhythm, while Richardson has continued to battle the kinds of mistakes that can stall an offense in a hurry. For a team that needs real depth at quarterback, the Colts are still waiting for one of those options to show he can be trusted. [Read more 🡒]
Riley Leonard Faces A Colts Backup QB Test That Could Change Everything
Riley Leonard has spent training camp trying to make a case that a sixth-round pick can force his way into a meaningful quarterback role with the Colts. Behind Daniel Jones, the competition for the No. 2 job has been active, and head coach Shane Steichen has made it clear that Leonard and Anthony Richardson are still battling for that spot. Leonard has flashed enough to hint at upside, with a few big plays showing why Indianapolis kept giving him chances, but the steady consistency needed to climb the depth chart is still a work in progress.
What makes the fight so interesting is how much of it comes down to the details that separate a camp standout from a backup quarterback the staff can trust. Leonard has focused on sharpening his pre-snap decision-making and getting quicker after the snap, areas that often decide whether a young passer moves forward or stalls out. The Colts are still sorting out the position, and Leonards path to the job may hinge on whether his recent promise turns into the kind of clean, repeatable execution that keeps coaches leaning his way. [Read more 🡒]
Pat McAfee Calls Out Colts Hype After Brutal AFC South Outlook
Pat McAfee is not buying the early optimism around the Colts, and his pushback lands at a time when the roster still feels like a work in progress. Indianapolis spent aggressively enough this offseason to invite bigger expectations, yet the market has the Colts at +380 to win the AFC South and pegged at a 7.5-win total, a combination that hardly suggests division favorite status.
The quarterback situation has at least looked steadier, with Daniel Jones signing an extension and turning in a strong camp, but the offense is still waiting on more clarity elsewhere. Alec Pierce is recovering from ankle surgery and does not have a set return date, leaving one of the teams top receiving options in limbo as the Colts try to turn offseason investment into something more convincing by opening day. [Read more 🡒]