Anthony Richardson and the Colts have seemed destined for a split for nearly a yr. The primary writing appeared on the wall when the team signed Daniel Jones to compete for the starting quarterback job; by midseason, it was covered.
Jones won the training camp competition and led Indianapolis to a 7-1 start, seemingly establishing himself because the Colts’ next franchise quarterback. Richardson, meanwhile, had been sidelined by a freak orbital fracture and was even the topic of some trade deadline chatter that one other team could see him as a reclamation project. He requested a trade this offseason, and the club worked to oblige him, but “nothing materialized,” assistant general manager Ed Dodds said this week (via Mike Chappell of FOX59).
Richardson still has just 28 starts and 743 passing attempts in his college and pro careers, presenting the concerns about each inexperience and sturdiness. Dodds reiterated that 24-year-old is “good to go,” but uncertainty about his eye injury was a think about his lack of trade interest, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder. He can also be owed $5.4MM in guaranteed compensation this yr, and one other team may not want to select up that tab for a developmental project.
The Colts will not be considering a release, Holder adds. They’d still owe Richardson that cash, and particularly with Jones recovering from last yr’s Achilles tear, it makes little sense for them to maneuver on from their former No. 3 pick with none financial relief or trade compensation.
“He’s back within the fold at once,” head coach Shane Steichen said at Phase 2 of the team’s offseason program (via Chappell).
Wthout significant interest from other teams, Richardson may now be best served by staying in Indianapolis, where he can compete with Riley Leonard for the backup quarterback gig. Until jones is back on the sector, that job comes with first-team reps, though Steichen declined to elucidate any sense of a pecking order.
There are indications that the team shouldn’t be completely out on Richardson’s talent and skill to contribute to the team. He had his best training camp in 2025, based on Holder, and though his eye injury kept him from returning to in-game motion, he impressed because the scout team QB late within the season. Actually, Holder adds, Richardson would have taken over because the Colts’ starter had he been healthy when Jones went down.
Jones has a lengthy injury history of his own, too. Any setback in his current recovery could thrust Richardson back right into a starting role this yr. Theoretically, the Colts could get out of their contract with Jones next offseason, though that might require a remarkable turnaround from Richardson. More likely, he shall be trying to contribute in any way possible this yr to spice up his stock before hitting free agency in 2027.