Overview
- Head coach Shane Steichen announced Thursday that Daniel Jones will start Week 1 and Anthony Richardson will serve as the Colts’ No. 2 quarterback, with Riley Leonard listed third.
- Coaches pointed to Richardson’s stronger preseason work as the deciding factor, when he completed 21 of 33 passes for about 249 yards and showed more rushing impact than Leonard.
- Richardson requested a trade in the spring but no deal materialized, and general manager Chris Ballard said the team expects him to remain in Indianapolis for the 2026 season.
- Medical and contract concerns shape his outlook: Richardson missed two months with an eye injury in October 2025 and had his 2027 fifth-year option declined, making him a pending free agent after 2026.
- The practical effect is clear for the Colts: Jones keeps the job but faces re-injury risk, Richardson is the immediate next man up, and his play this season will determine whether he stays in Indy or seeks a new role in 2027.