Anthony Richardson’s place with the Colts is looking shakier by the day, and his latest comments about how Shane Steichen plans to use him don’t exactly clear things up.
Richardson was asked about the possibility of working in short-yardage situations, and his answer sounded more like a player waiting for a chance than someone firmly in the team’s plans.
“Not necessarily. He’s just telling me be ready.
If I get the opportunity, just go out there and play. … Showcase what I can do and just be me,” Richardson said.
#Colts QB Anthony Richardson Sr., asked if HC Shane Steichen has spoken to him about being used in short-yardage packages:
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 22, 2026
“Not necessarily. He’s just telling me be ready. If I get the opportunity, just go out there and play. … Showcase what I can do and just be me.” pic.twitter.com/q9UJsJXtVP
That uncertainty comes on the heels of a rough showing in Indianapolis’ second preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. Richardson completed three of his nine passes for 24 yards, a line that didn’t do much to strengthen his case as the Colts head toward roster cuts.
The bigger issue is that this has been building for a while. Richardson and the Colts have not been aligned for months, and he asked for a trade earlier in the offseason. When he addressed that request, he didn’t sound like a quarterback locked into staying put.
“So I'm not necessarily sure what's going on with that, but I'm just here right now and trying to make sure I can, you know, stand my foot on this team and be the best version of myself I can be for the team,” Richardson said.
Whether the Colts are willing to move him is another question. If they decide to carry three quarterbacks, Richardson could still have a place on the roster, but that doesn’t guarantee much in terms of development. Sitting behind two other players would leave him with limited chances to grow.
For now, the situation feels unsettled. Richardson’s future in Indianapolis is still very much up in the air, and his role - if there is one - doesn’t look especially defined.
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Colts Left Preseason Week 2 With 3 Big Roster Questions
The Colts left their Week 2 preseason game with a better sense of some things and a lot less clarity on others, especially at linebacker. Akeem Davis-Gaither appears lined up to start, but who will work alongside him is still up in the air, and that uncertainty sits right next to another area that looked thin again: the pass rush. Indianapolis managed only one sack and one quarterback hit, leaving the front seven with more questions than answers as the roster picture starts to sharpen.
There is also a real decision coming at backup quarterback, where Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson are both trying to separate themselves for different reasons. Both had their share of passing struggles, but their styles are not the same and that matters as the Colts keep sorting out how they want the position behind the starter to look. With one preseason game down and another layer of evaluation still to come, the race on the depth chart feels far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Richardson Keeps Colts Backup Debate Alive For One Big Reason
Anthony Richardson got another look in the second half of the Colts Week 2 preseason game against the Falcons, and the final line was uneven enough to keep the conversation around Indianapolis quarterback room going. He completed 3 of 9 passes for 24 yards while dealing with pressure from offensive line issues and limited separation from his receivers, but he also flashed the kind of movement and improvisation that has long been part of his appeal, extending plays and leaning on zone reads when the pocket broke down.
For Shane Steichen, the bigger question is still unresolved. The Colts coach has not set a timetable for naming the backup quarterback, and Richardsons overall preseason has been stronger than Riley Leonards, which keeps the competition from feeling settled just yet. Even with the rough patches, Richardsons ability to survive adverse situations and create something out of them is giving him a real case to stay in the mix a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Real Jaylahn Tuimoloau Problem
Jaylahn Tuimoloau arrived with real draft capital behind him, the kind of investment that usually buys a young edge rusher a longer runway in Indianapolis. Instead, the second-year pass rusher has spent the preseason and his rookie season trying to find his footing, and the latest reminder came against the Falcons, where he finished without registering a statistic.
For a Colts team that has already had plenty of trouble hitting on quarterbacks and edge rushers in recent years, Tuimoloaus slow start is more than just a depth-chart nuisance. The organization can afford patience to a point, but if the production does not come in 2026, the conversation could shift from development to whether a benching or even a release becomes part of the equation. [Read more 🡒]