The Colts are giving Anthony Richardson the first shot in preseason Week 1, and that decision says plenty about where things stand in Indianapolis.
Joel A. Erickson of IndyStar reported that Richardson will start against New England and play the first half, while Riley Leonard handles the second half. The split flips in the next preseason game, with Leonard starting the first half against Atlanta and Richardson taking the second.
"Anthony Richardson will start against New England and play the first half; Riley Leonard will get the second half," Erickson reports. "Leonard gets the first half against Atlanta, Richardson gets the second."
It’s a notable move for a quarterback room already carrying plenty of noise. Daniel Jones’ recovery from a significant injury remains one of the bigger storylines around the team, and Richardson’s future is just as cloudy. The former No. 4 overall pick might not even be on the roster when Week 1 of the regular season arrives.
That’s what makes this preseason assignment so intriguing. Richardson has asked for a trade, and while the Colts are not expected to simply move on from him, they also haven’t given any sign that he has a real path to the starting job.
Jones is the projected starter for 2026, assuming he’s healthy and ready to go. So Richardson getting the opening preseason reps looks like a chance to put himself back in the window, both for Indianapolis and for any other teams watching.
If he plays well, the Colts could at least create some market for him. If that happens, maybe another team gets interested enough to put together a trade offer that matters.
Even then, the return probably wouldn’t be huge. A Day 3 pick feels like the best-case scenario, and even a fourth-rounder would be stretching it.
Still, the first preseason game gives Richardson a live stage, and that’s the point. If he looks sharp, he can help his case for another NFL opportunity. If he doesn’t, the questions around his future are only going to get louder.
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