Colts QB Showdown: Why Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson Are Struggling to Stand Out

The Indianapolis Colts are facing a confusing situation at quarterback. Instead of a battle for the starting role, it feels more like a problem exists among their options.

Recently, it seemed free agent Daniel Jones had a slight lead over returning player Anthony Richardson. However, training camp reports indicate Jones hasn’t performed well. You might think that would give Richardson a chance to take the lead, but that hasn’t happened either. Both players are struggling, leaving the team in a tough spot.

A recent analysis from James Boyd of The Athletic shows Jones’s stats in training camp are concerning. He is 23-for-41 with only one touchdown and an interception. Richardson, on the other hand, has completed 19 of 43 passes, with two touchdowns and one interception. Despite some showing from Richardson in recent drills, both quarterbacks seem to be treading water.

Jones had a shaky career with the New York Giants, leading to his release in November 2024. He briefly joined the Minnesota Vikings but didn’t play, then signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Colts in hopes of starting fresh.

On the flip side, Richardson was the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, a selection based on his impressive potential. However, he’s had a rough start too, missing much of his rookie season and performing poorly last year. Across 15 games, he completed 50.6% of his passes, totaling 2,391 yards, with a disappointing 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. His career passer rating sits at 67.8, although he has shown promise as a runner with 10 rushing touchdowns.

The Colts are indeed in a challenging position with their quarterbacks. If neither player steps up soon, they might be looking to invest another high draft pick in the position come next April.

With so many teams struggling to find consistent quarterback play, the Colts must act quickly. As the league evolves, having a reliable quarterback is crucial to success. Recent trends show that teams are more likely to succeed with stable quarterback play, so the Colts will need to address this issue before it’s too late.

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