Let’s go back to Week 15, Colts vs. Broncos. It’s late in the season. And it’s not just another game—it’s a mirror. A reflection of how far Anthony Richardson’s come, how far he still has to go, and the brutal learning curve of being “The Guy” in Indianapolis. His start to the professional ground was already a little edgy, having had an injury-laden collegiate career where he started in only 13 games. Then there was the throwing shoulder injury that ended his season. And being a QB in the city where Peyton Manning once threw 28 interceptions in his rookie year without missing a single snap certainly adds pressure. Richardson? He’s missed nineteen games in his first two seasons.
So when Manning told CBS, ahead of Denver’s 31-13 dub over Indy, “The best teacher is game reps,” it hit harder than a blindside sack. Because that’s the one thing Richardson just hasn’t had. After shoulder surgery, Richardson returned in 2024 ready to roll. Until he didn’t. A league-low completion rate in ten starts led to a benching in favor of veteran Joe Flacco. Richardson called it a teaching moment. And to his credit, he responded—with a dual-threat explosion in Week 11. A flicker of what the Colts’ fans had dreamt up on draft night.
But here’s the issue: This wasn’t even his rookie season, yet Richardson looked like a rookie. In 11 games, he had 12 picks with 1,814 passing yards and 8 TDs and under 50% completion. He could bulldoze defenders on the ground, 499 yds for 6 TDs, sure. But from the pocket? Erratic. Inaccurate. And at times, overwhelmed. That’s the external view. As for the internal perspective, Richardson dropped a confession on the Built 4 More podcast.
When the host asked Richardson about how he deals with the noise surrounding his low starting numbers, he cleared the air, “Man, uh, it’s definitely tough, you know, dealing with injuries. I never—like, you can talk to any type of athlete, like no matter what sport you play—like, you don’t want to deal with injuries ‘cause, you know, it’s a setback, low-key, ‘cause it stops you from doing what you love to do.
“I love being able to work out, I love being able to run, I just love being able to play football. But whenever there’s an injury, you know, you—you kinda hate that. Like I said, it hindered me from, you know, being able to play football. And, you know, people are like, ‘Okay, you got to get reps, you got to get reps.’ Well man, I’m trying. But you know, sometimes, some of the things are like out of your control. But it don’t matter. It’s just adversity. You just gotta fight through it and just, you know, just keep fighting.”
He didn’t sugarcoat anything. The injuries weren’t just physical—they hit his soul. And when asked how he fights the mental war, Richardson didn’t flinch: “I know, for a fact, that God didn’t put me through everything that I’ve been through just to stop me right now. Everything I’ve been through has always been a possibility for me to have a breakthrough, to get to a bigger point in my life. I know there’s more for me, and I’m gonna go get that. But I also just wanna be better.”
But now, the Colts are hedging their bets. Enter Daniel Jones, here to compete in 2025. And suddenly, Richardson’s not just fighting to stay healthy—he’s fighting for his job– Two years in, 19 games missed. And the questions are louder than ever.
Anthony Richardson gets a reality-check under center
Let’s cut to it—Daniel Jones didn’t exactly light it up with the Giants last season. A 3-14 record? Rough. He looked like he was throwing behind a folding table disguised as an O-line. But despite the chaos in New York, Jones did have his moments: 2,070 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and a 63.3% completion rate across ten games. Not terrible. Still, it wasn’t enough to avoid the mid-season shake-up.
Jones got shipped to Indianapolis for a fresh start. Now? He’s got Anthony Richardson staring him down in a battle that could define both careers. And make no mistake, the Colts’ QB battle isn’t just smoke. It’s here. With voluntary offseason workouts underway, Indy is prepping for a summer-long chess match under center. Phase One? Strictly meetings and conditioning. No pads. No 11-on-11 fireworks yet. But don’t let that fool you—this is where the mental groundwork gets laid.
Colts GM Chris Ballard knows exactly what’s at stake. “Sometimes you’ve got to be bad before you can be good at playing this game,” Ballard said Monday, laying it bare. “We’ve got two guys that have had some really strong flashes and have had some bad moments, too. And that’s OK.” It’s clear Ballard sees value in their shared scars. “Competition brings out the best in everybody,” he added.
But here’s where it gets real: Ballard’s not interested in choosing favorites early. “You don’t want to begin with an end in mind,” he said, doubling down. The goal? Let it all play out. May the best man win. But given the injury history on both sides, Ballard did crack, “If I’m a betting man, at some point both of them will help us.” Colts fans better buckle up because the Indy QB roulette is just getting started.
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