Anthony Richardson didn’t need long to get a look at what life could look like in Indianapolis.
The NFL’s opener always carries extra juice, especially when the defending Super Bowl champs are at home and the building is buzzing. But the mood can turn fast, and it did here. After just one series, Sam Darnold went down with a hip injury and did not return, with Drew Lock taking over and leading the Seahawks to victory.
That kind of snap change is exactly why Richardson’s situation with the Colts deserves attention. Darnold had gone from being pushed out by the Jets after a rough run there to rebuilding his career in Minnesota and then reaching the league’s biggest stage with Seattle.
One moment, everything looked settled. The next, it was gone.
For Richardson, the lesson is obvious even if he isn’t hoping for it to happen to Daniel Jones. Jones may miss time this season, and that possibility is part of the reality around him. If it happens, Richardson could be the next man up, suddenly thrown into the spotlight with a real chance to reshape his career.
The Colts would prefer not to see Richardson on the field much this season, because that would mean Jones stayed healthy and upright. But that’s not something anyone can bank on.
Darnold lasted five plays, and nobody had that scripted. Wednesday was a reminder that the opportunity Richardson needs could arrive at any moment, and he has to be ready when it does.
In Other News...
Colts Defensive Overhaul Just Sent A Former Starter To A Rival
The Colts defensive makeover has already started to reshape the roster, and one of the first ripple effects was Jaylon Jones landing with a division rival. After being waived by Indianapolis, Jones cleared waivers, chose free agency and quickly signed with the Tennessee Titans, giving him a fresh start in a familiar system under Titans defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who coached him in Indianapolis.
Jones departure fits the broader shift in Indianapolis under new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, whose scheme has changed the teams priorities and personnel needs. For a player who had been part of the mix in Indianapolis, the move to Tennessee is a reminder that scheme changes can be just as disruptive as injuries or roster cuts, especially when a team is reworking its back end and deciding which holdovers still fit. [Read more 🡒]
Former Colts Starter Just Created An Awkward AFC South Test
Jaylon Jones move from Indianapolis to Tennessee adds a little extra bite to an AFC South matchup that already carries its usual share of familiarity. The former Colts cornerback was released and then quickly landed on the Titans active roster, giving him a fresh chance in a division where everyone knows everyone else a little too well.
Jones had 17 starts for Indianapolis in 2024, but injuries and a dip in effectiveness in 2025 helped push the Colts toward moving on. The Titans have turned over a lot of their defensive personnel, so there could be a real opening for him to find a role, while Indianapolis enters the matchup with a cornerback group that looks capable of making sure his return stays a limited one. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Reopened A Frustrating Rodney Thomas II Debate
The Colts spent the offseason turning over their secondary, parting with Zaire Franklin and letting Nick Cross and Rodney Thomas II walk as they tried to get younger and more athletic. Thomas ended up with the Seahawks after first landing on their practice squad, and he was active in Week 1 against the Patriots, where he made an immediate case that he still has something to offer as a versatile defensive back.
For Indianapolis, his early success in Seattle only sharpens an old question about how much value the Colts extracted from him while he was here. Thomas has long been the kind of player whose flexibility can help a defense in a few different ways, and his showing against New England serves as another reminder that his next chapter may look a lot different than his last one in Indianapolis. [Read more 🡒]