Indianapolis has settled one of its lingering quarterback questions, and Anthony Richardson Sr. is the one walking away with the backup job.
On Thursday, head coach Shane Steichen named Richardson the Colts’ QB2 for the 2026 season, with Riley Leonard expected to be the emergency third quarterback on gamedays. Daniel Jones is locked in as the starter, so the battle behind him was the only real uncertainty at the position.
Steichen pointed to Richardson’s preseason work when explaining the decision.
“I thought Anthony played some better ball in the preseason," Steichen said. "I think both of them had pretty good camps - things they can both improve on. But I thought he did some good things in the games.”
For Richardson, the move is another step in a year that has already taken him through plenty of change. He requested a trade in February and was away from the team at the start of the offseason program, but said his mindset shifted once he reported for OTAs.
“Not much has really changed, honestly," Richardson said. "When I reported back for OTAs, I was here, told myself I was going to be here, and prepare myself like I was going to be here for the start of the season. God made it happen, so I'm still trying to do the same thing: prepare myself and just get ready for Day One.”
Richardson’s path has been anything but smooth. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft started his first two seasons, then lost the job to Jones in 2025 after a training camp and preseason competition.
As the backup, Richardson mostly only saw the field in lopsided games while Jones thrived. Then Week 6 brought the kind of setback that can wreck a season entirely. While warming up in the locker room before the game against the Arizona Cardinals, an equipment malfunction caused a serious injury that nearly cost him his eye.
He landed on Injured Reserve and never made it back before the season ended. Jones later suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 14, but Richardson was unavailable to step in.
Now, after spending part of the offseason looking toward a different future, Richardson is back in a familiar uniform and calling the promotion a meaningful sign from the organization.
“I was honored. I'm just blessed," Richardson said of being named the QB2.
"I'm just blessed to continue to find a way in this league, continue to find my way on the roster. I'm just thankful that they believe in me enough to promote me (to) QB2, and I'm just ready to work, and I'm just willing to work for this team and just provide my best self for this squad to just help us win.”
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