Two of the Colts’ three preseason games are now in the books. With Week 1 approaching, a decision on the team’s starting quarterback should be coming shortly. 
[RELATED: Recapping Colts’ Offseason]
When speaking to the media on Saturday following the Colts’ loss to the Packers, head coach Shane Steichen said he is “very close” to naming a starter for the beginning of the 2025 campaign. Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson each saw action today, with both attempting 11 passes during the game. That adds to the performances each have submitted throughout the summer.
“I’ve seen obviously three weeks of it,” Steichen said (via Fox59’s Mike Chappell) when speaking about the ongoing contest. “I’d like to have a decision here shortly. Yeah, I feel pretty clean when I make that decision. Again, when I make this decision, I’m going to do what I feel is best for this football team.”
Jones – added in free agency on a one-year deal as the Colts’ target for a veteran capable of competing with Richardson for the QB1 gig – held a “significant” lead in the competition before training camp began. Richardson managed to rehab his latest shoulder injury in time to start Indianapolis’ preseason opener, but a dislocated finger limited his time in that contest. The fourth overall pick in 2023’s draft has played just 15 regular season games to date, and his showings in that span have fallen well short of expectations.
After relying on Gardner Minshew and Joe Flacco as veteran insurance the past two years, the Colts will lean on Jones to at least serve as an experienced fill-in option. The former Giants top-10 pick flamed out of New York last year, but landing the starting position would allow for a fresh start. Jones, 28, secured over $13MM fully guaranteed when signing with Indianapolis. That figure confirmed his status as a genuine contender for first-team responsibilities on his new squad, and it will be interesting to see if Jones will at least begin the season atop the depth chart.
The Colts have missed the playoffs for four straight seasons, and Steichen’s tenure as head coach (starting in 2023) has yielded a 17-17 record. Finding long-term stability under center will be critical for the franchise – and, quite possibly, Steichen’s job security – but consistent play in the immediate future will be highly important as well. Clarity on how the 2025 campaign will be approached could emerge soon.
Hard call !
AR wins.
Only because of how much they invested into him.
It’s hard to justify giving up on a top 5 pick after two seasons even if he’s terrible.
Daniel jones was a competition piece to help AR be competitive and work harder but also serve as a solid backup should he go down again. That’s all this has been
Other way around. They have Jones to much guaranteed money to sit in the bench. Which is where AR has spent most of his career. His lack of ability, and not enough availability has doomed him.
Colts should deal Jones to the Browns for a 6th
Jones’ guaranteed money isn’t that big a deal. He and Richardson combine for under $24 million in cap hit this year. 15 individual quarterbacks surpass that this year, and that doesn’t include Lawrence, Hurts, or Purdy. Either way they’ll have a cheap starter, a pricey backup, and a relatively inexpensive room overall.
Andrew Luck’s corpse would be better than the two options they have.
Until his wife made him quit – again…
there’s no “correct” choice to make. either way you’re going 3-14.
They’ll start with Jones until he and Ballard get fired, and then the interim coach will switch back to Richardson for a spark.
Jones is getting it hands down. These coaches and the GM are fighting for their jobs. No way you trust that to AR.
Is that any better choice? Daniel Jones has sucked his whole career too. The Giants went 4-13 largely because of him last year.
To be fair Jones only played in 10 games last year. Not saying he’s a great QB, but he’s much better than Richardson, who still hasn’t shown he should be anywhere near an NFL field.
He might as well just name Richardson as the starter. A) they really need to confirm if he is a total bust or not, and B) he’s going to get injured anyway, so Daniel Jones will be starting games for them soon enough regardless. It’s not like Indy is a Super Bowl contender.
This will take care of itself before the September part of the schedule is finished. It will be AR but with a 1 1/2 game leash; if the Colts are 0-1 and behind at halftime in Denver into the game will go Danny Dimes… That or AR gets injured in Sept…
Just punt on every down until your in range to try a FG 🙂
AR can’t stay on the field (15 games since being drafted), and is a runner trying to play QB and has done so badly when he’s actually played. Drafting him was a shot in the dark given his experience( or lack of) and actual results in college….
The HC has to be concerned over wins and losses, but probably will start AR, and roll the dice as to whether injury or inept QB play earns him a spot on the bench….leading to Jones moving into the starting lineup…..
Reports were that Richardson was actually outplaying Jones in camp, so who knows with that franchise.
Unless he’s an absolute train wreck, it has to be Richardson.