As the preseason winds down and roster cuts get closer, Anthony Richardson is back in the middle of quarterback chatter - this time as a possible trade target for teams looking for help.
FOX Sports NFL writer Steven Ruiz said Monday that he’s still not ready to walk away from the Colts’ former first-round pick, even after another uneven preseason showing. “I’m still not ready to give up on Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, whose preseason tape has been a lot better than the numbers imply,” Ruiz stated. “Teams like Miami, Cleveland and Atlanta should give the Colts a call if Riley Leonard ends up winning the QB2 job behind Daniel Jones in Indy.”
Richardson, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, struggled in Indianapolis’ 34-6 preseason loss to Atlanta on Aug. 22.
He went 3 of 9 for 24 yards, posted a 42.4 passer rating and added 15 rushing yards on three carries. In the same game, Leonard finished 7 of 14 for 62 yards with a 62.2 rating, according to multiple game reports including those from the Colts’ official site and Associated Press.
The appeal with Richardson has always been tied to the full package, not just the box score. In 11 games last season, he threw for 1,814 yards with a 47.7 percent completion rate, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
His passer rating was 61.6. On the ground, though, he remained dangerous, running for 499 yards and six touchdowns on 86 carries while averaging 5.8 yards per attempt.
That blend of size, athleticism and arm strength is what keeps his name in circulation. Richardson asked for a trade earlier this offseason after losing the starting job to Daniel Jones, and the two sides looked into options without finding a deal. The Colts, for their part, would rather keep three quarterbacks and have not shown interest in moving him for cheap.
There’s still one more chance for Richardson to make a statement in Indianapolis. Head coach Shane Steichen said Tuesday that Richardson will start the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions on Saturday and play the first quarter, according to reports from the Indianapolis Star.
Atlanta’s quarterback situation is part of why Ruiz sees a market for Richardson. Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. are battling for the Falcons’ starting job, and Penix returned to full practice work this week after a 2025 ACL injury.
Undrafted free agent Jack Strand, from Division II Minnesota State-Moorhead, also made noise in the win over Indianapolis with 212 passing yards and a rushing touchdown. Ruiz wrote that Strand might currently be the best quarterback on Atlanta’s roster based on recent tape.
Miami and Cleveland were the other teams Ruiz pointed to. Miami enters the year with Malik Willis projected as the starter after signing him in free agency to a multi-year deal. Cleveland, meanwhile, named Deshaun Watson its Week 1 starter over Shedeur Sanders on Monday, though questions remain about the long-term picture because of Watson’s injury history and contract situation.
For now, Richardson’s situation still hangs on what happens in practice and what he does Saturday. If Leonard wins the backup job, Ruiz believes the Colts could start hearing from teams looking for a swing at a quarterback whose tools still jump off the screen.
In Other News...
Former Colts Starter Faces Concerning Injury Scare In Houston
Braden Smiths move from Indianapolis to Houston gave the Texans an experienced starter at right tackle, but his first summer with the team has already hit a nerve. During a joint practice with the Carolina Panthers, Smith suffered an apparent leg injury and had to be carted off the field, a troubling sight for a player brought in to help stabilize one of the leagues most important spots on the line.
There has been no immediate word on the severity of the injury or how long Smith might be sidelined, though any significant absence would be a major concern for Houston. The former Colts starter signed a two-year contract with the Texans after spending several seasons in Indianapolis, and his health now becomes a key storyline for a team hoping to lean on him this season. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Final 53 Still Has Openings For A Few Real Surprises
The Colts are heading into final cutdown day with more questions than clean answers, and that uncertainty has created a lane for a few names that looked like nothing more than camp depth a few weeks ago. Injuries and recent departures have thinned out parts of the roster, while the defense in particular has gone through enough turnover that the back end of the depth chart feels a lot more open than it usually does at this stage.
That is where the intrigue lives for players like Coleman Owen, Jimmy Morrissey and Tim Smith, each of whom has at least hung around long enough to make the conversation interesting. The Colts are still sorting through position-by-position competition and weighing how those pieces fit into the 2026 roster picture, but the final answers have not come yet, which is exactly why the last few spots are worth watching so closely. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Still Have One Big Readiness Question Before Week 1
The Colts are heading into their final preseason game with most of the roster picture getting clearer, and the injury report finally offering some encouraging signs. Wide receiver Alec Pierce has been moving in the right direction after missing training camp because of ankle surgery, while cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. is back on the field after dealing with a back injury. For a team trying to settle in before the real games begin, those are the kinds of updates that matter.
Still, the last stretch before Week 1 is not without questions. Tyler Warren and Anthony Gould remain sidelined or limited with groin injuries, leaving Indianapolis to keep monitoring how quickly key pieces can get back to full speed. The Colts do not need every issue solved in late August, but they do need enough healthy bodies to enter the season with a workable plan. [Read more 🡒]