Stampede Blue
The Colts starting QB competition is expected to be one of the top positional battles league wide this training camp and preseason.
According to PFF, the Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback competition is one of its ‘Top 10 preseason battles to watch for’:
Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson vs. Daniel Jones
Inconsistency and injuries have left Anthony Richardson trailing in the Colts’ quarterback competition heading into training camp, and a recent setback with his shoulder could further hinder his chances. With Richardson sidelined, Daniel Jones is reportedly emerging as the early favorite to win the starting job.
While Jones faced his share of criticism during his time in New York, he demonstrated competence when operating within structure. Before being benched and ultimately released last season, he earned an 83.2 PFF passing grade when kept clean — a sign that he can succeed in the right system.
Of course, this one shouldn’t really come as a surprise, as the Colts’ top leadership has publicly proclaimed multiple times already this offseason that it’ll be an open quarterback competition between third-year pro Anthony Richardson and top challenger Daniel Jones.
Even though Richardson already has two years of experience in head coach Shane Steichen’s offense and playbook, it appears that Jones may have the early leg up in this ongoing quarterback competition due to the former’s uncertain health status.
Richardson has been resting his surgically repaired right throwing shoulder which has kept him out of OTAs and veteran minicamp, providing Jones arguably an early lead for a Colts coaching staff that will be looking for greater consistency and continuity from its QB1.
The Colts provided Jones bottom tier starting quarterback money this offseason as a free agent with the expectation that he may very well end up starting, especially given Richardson’s continued availability concerns.
The Colts’ top brass, namely longtime general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen, are on the hot seat to make the playoffs, so if that means starting Jones to save their jobs, that very well could end up ultimately being the initial play.
