Anthony Richardson Sr. is staying in the mix for the Colts, and now he’s got a clearer role: backup quarterback behind starter Daniel Jones.
Shane Steichen announced Thursday that Richardson beat out 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard for the No. 2 job after the two spent training camp battling for the spot. Leonard had looked like he might have the early edge, but Richardson’s stronger preseason apparently swung things his way.
Richardson called the decision a meaningful one.
“I was honored,” Richardson said of being told he’d been named the Colts’ top backup QB. “I’m just thankful that they believe in me enough to promote me to QB2. I’m just ready to work, willing to work for this team and provide my best self for this squad.”
The numbers from the preseason tell the story of how close the competition was, and where Richardson separated himself. In three preseason games, Richardson went 21 of 33 for 249 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. He also ran 10 times for 68 yards and a touchdown, though he did lose one fumble while scrambling.
Leonard finished 20 of 42 for 199 yards, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. On the ground, he added six carries for 17 yards and had two fumbled snaps, although neither one was lost.
Richardson’s rise to QB2 is just the latest twist in a strange run with Indianapolis. Over the past year, he lost the starting job to Jones, then nearly lost an eye after breaking his orbital bone in a freak pregame accident last season.
He also opened the offseason by formally asking for a trade, looking for a new NFL home. That move never led anywhere, and general manager Chris Ballard said in late July that the Colts were not going to “give him away.”
The trade request has still been hanging over everything through camp and the preseason, but the Colts have made their stance clearer as the summer has gone on. Assistant GM Ed Dodds said in mid-August, “I think you take care of your own team first,” Dodds said.
“We want to have three (quarterbacks) who can play. So, if (Richardson) is one of them, he’s going to be here.”
Ballard echoed that view earlier this week.
“I’ve been pretty consistent with Anthony,” Ballard said Monday, three days before Steichen named Richardson the top backup. “We forget how young he is sometimes.
Really proud of his growth. … There were two times in camp that I said, ‘OK, he’s starting to really show some poise.’
The two-minute against New England - remember, we’re backed up. I think it was 38 seconds left on the clock, (and he) gets us in field goal range to give us a chance to get points.
And then during the Atlanta scrimmage, he had a tremendous two-minute drill also, so it’s been fun to watch Anthony’s growth.”
Richardson said he wasn’t dwelling on the trade request when asked about it.
“I’m here. I’m not really thinking about that. I haven’t talked to my agent about that …” he said.
The Colts also revealed their five team captains: Jones, left guard Quenton Nelson, running back Jonathan Taylor, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and safety Cam Bynum.
Jones is a captain for the eighth time in his career, including last season with Indianapolis. Buckner is also an eight-time captain, with the last six coming in consecutive seasons with the Colts.
Nelson has now been a captain for six straight seasons in Indianapolis. Taylor will wear the captain label for the third time in his career, while Bynum is taking on the role for the first time.
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