The Indianapolis Colts were busy around the NFL trade deadline, moving DeForest Buckner, Quenton Nelson, Josh Downs, and Keenan Allen. They also kicked around the idea of dealing Jonathan Taylor and even Daniel Jones, which made the quarterback situation worth watching.
Jones ended up staying put, and that matters for Anthony Richardson Sr. The possibility of moving Jones had opened the door for Richardson to get another shot, but that door now looks close to shut.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that the Colts are not likely to turn to Richardson anytime soon, if at all this season, because the coaching staff does not feel strongly enough about him to bench Jones.
“As for Jones, he was likely Minnesota's backup option to Cousins. It's worth noting that the Colts' coaching staff just doesn't seem eager to play Anthony Richardson Sr. and is much more comfortable with Jones despite his struggles,” Fowler writes.
That lines up with what the Colts showed at the deadline: even while they were listening on Jones, there was no real push to move him. They clearly valued him more than Richardson, and that makes Richardson’s path back to the field look extremely narrow.
At this point, it would likely take an injury to Jones for Richardson to get another chance. The former No. 4 overall pick is not viewed as the preferred option by the coaching staff, and that’s the clearest sign yet that the Colts are content to ride with Jones.
For Colts fans hoping to see Richardson again this season, the outlook is bleak. As long as Jones stays healthy, Indianapolis appears set to keep the veteran in place the rest of the way.
Richardson’s run in Indianapolis may be nearing its end, and this report suggests he may not take another snap this season.
In Other News...
Colts Kept Daniel Jones But His Future Still Feels Unsettled
Daniel Jones is still in Indianapolis after the trade deadline, and that alone says plenty about where the Colts stand with their quarterback situation. The team chose not to move on from him, even with his future beyond the 2026 season still hanging in the balance, leaving him in place for the stretch run while the long-term picture remains cloudy.
Jones has not exactly quieted the questions with his play, either, as his season has included issues with completion percentage, yards per attempt and turnovers. The Colts decision to keep him may have as much to do with finances as football, but for now the focus stays on what he can do in the present, even as the uncertainty around his next chapter keeps lingering in the background. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Josh Downs Problem Fans Feared
Josh Downs exit from Indianapolis came quickly, and it left the Colts with a hole they did not have long to fill. After requesting a trade, Downs was dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs, ending his run with a team that had counted on him as part of its passing game and leaving Indianapolis to adjust its plans without one of its more dynamic receivers.
Kansas City, meanwhile, is treating the move like a major addition. Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes have both voiced enthusiasm about bringing Downs into the offense, and the expectation is that he will have a significant role right away. Downs has spoken positively about his time with the Colts, but for Indianapolis the bigger story is the one he leaves behind, and how quickly the offense can absorb the loss. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Blocking Concern In A Key AFC Matchup
The Colts opened practice for Sundays matchup with Miami with a couple of notable absences in the trenches, as tight end Mo Alie-Cox and right tackle Jalen Travis both sat out because of injuries. For a team that leans on physicality and blocking to keep its offense on schedule, losing two key pieces on the same day of preparation is the kind of development that immediately changes the conversation around a game plan.
Several other Indianapolis players were limited or held out as the week got started, though there was a positive note with edge defender Arden Key and cornerback Justin Walley both fully participating. Miami is dealing with its own roster issues after placing quarterback Malik Willis and defensive lineman Zach Sieler on Injured Reserve, but the Colts concern right now is whether they can get enough healthy bodies back up front before a key AFC test on Sunday. [Read more 🡒]