Overview

• Head coach Shane Steichen said Jones is the starter for the season and emphasized he does not want a short leash.
• Quarterbacks coach Cameron Turner said Richardson’s consistency "is not where we wanted it to be," offering the clearest rationale for the decision.
• Richardson will open as the backup, and his agent Deiric Jackson told ESPN that trust with the team is "at best, questionable" and that "we have a lot to discuss."
• Teammates highlighted Jones’ work ethic, while All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson acknowledged ongoing frustration with the franchise’s frequent quarterback changes.
• Analysts are speculating on trade fits for Richardson—naming teams such as the Steelers, Saints, Rams, Jets, and Raiders—and some early mock drafts project Indianapolis targeting a 2026 quarterback like Penn State’s Drew Allar if instability continues.