Shane Steichen spent most of the offseason and preseason laying out the same message about Anthony Richardson, and on Thursday he finally said it out loud: Richardson is the Colts’ QB2 behind Daniel Jones.
Steichen told reporters, including ESPN’s Stephen Holder, that Jones’ immediate backup would be the player entering his fourth season with the team. That lines up with how Indianapolis handled the reps all summer. Richardson opened minicamp getting the initial QB1 work while Jones was limited, then took the first QB2 reps in training camp and the preseason.
For nearly four full seasons, the Colts have kept giving the 2023 first-round pick chances to show he can be the answer. In 2026, the organization may have to decide whether it was wrong about Richardson or whether it was right to take him fourth overall in the draft three years ago.
Richardson beat out Riley Leonard for the backup job, and he did it with a stronger camp and preseason. Leonard had turned heads when he started Week 18 last year against the Houston Texans, and plenty of fans expected that experience to carry over into this summer. It didn’t.
Indianapolis simply didn’t have much of a choice. Leonard may have three years left on his rookie deal, but the Colts need to make the playoffs this season or major changes could be coming across the organization.
If Jones gets hurt again - his career has already ended early three times because of injury, including the torn Achilles he suffered in Week 14 last year - Richardson is the more natural option to step in than Leonard. There’s also more on the line for Richardson now. He’s in the final year of his contract, which means he’d be playing for his next opportunity as much as for Indianapolis.
The encouraging part for the Colts is that Richardson looked more comfortable in Steichen’s system than he has at any point since arriving. He still had moments of indecision, but he ran when he needed to and looked sharper and more accurate throwing the ball. Leonard, by contrast, was close to the opposite.
The real test comes once the regular season starts and opposing defenses have a full week to scheme against Steichen’s offense. If Jones goes down and Richardson can’t deliver, the Colts could be headed for a 2027 reset with a new general manager and head coach, and Richardson likely on his way out as well.
In Other News...
Colts Make An Early QB Call That Will Shape This Season
The Colts have made an early quarterback decision that gives a clearer picture of how they plan to open the 2026 season, with Anthony Richardson Sr. set to begin as the backup behind the starter. Shane Steichen said the choice was driven by preseason performance, a straightforward football call that carries plenty of weight for a team still sorting out its long-term answer under center.
It also comes against a busy early-week backdrop for Indianapolis, with Keenan Allen expected to be available for Week 1 despite a recent legal matter and Alec Pierce back in full practice after working through an ankle and heel injury. The Colts have also settled on their five captains and are still managing a few other injury situations, so while the quarterback pecking order is now clearer, the bigger roster picture is still settling into place. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Richardsons Colts Future Just Took A Surprising Turn
Anthony Richardson Sr. is staying put in Indianapolis, and for now hes moving into a different spot on the quarterback depth chart. The Colts have settled on Daniel Jones as the starter, with Richardson backing him up and Riley Leonard serving as the emergency third quarterback after a competitive offseason and training camp battle that kept the room under a microscope.
Shane Steichen and Chris Ballard both confirmed Richardson will remain with the team even after his earlier trade request, a notable turn in a situation that had been drawing plenty of attention around the Colts. The decision leaves Indianapolis with a clear order at quarterback, but it also keeps Richardson in the building, where the next phase of his Colts future will unfold behind Jones. [Read more 🡒]
Colts May Open Week 1 With A Rookie Problem They Didn't Expect
The Colts went into the spring and summer expecting rookie help on defense, but Week 1 could arrive before either of those additions is ready to take a starting role. Indianapolis drafted linebacker CJ Allen and safety AJ Haulcy with the idea of filling the void left by departing players, yet the opener against the Ravens may feature a different look if the rookies are not in place by kickoff.
Haulcy is still working back from an ankle injury and has not practiced recently, while Allen has returned from injury but has not locked down a first-team job. General manager Chris Ballard said Haulcy is progressing, though he would not put a timetable on his return, which leaves the Colts sorting through other options such as Hunter Wohler, Akeen Davis-Gaither and Jaylon Carlies as the opener gets closer. [Read more 🡒]