In January, the Indianapolis Colts‘ quarterback, Anthony Richardson, revealed that he was diagnosed with severe back spasms, which led to his departure to the sidelines. By then, the condition worsened so much that he could barely walk without pain. But fans already suspected something was awry, as in October 2024, he had “tapped out” due to fatigue in Week 8. That was followed by his benching in the midseason, and doubts and questions suddenly surrounded the young prospect. NFL analyst Greg Cosell even stated, “Anthony Richardson has missed a ton of easy, basic throws through two weeks. Stuff that high school quarterbacks can make,” in September 2024.

Could he ever recover from this? The end of the season pointed in the right direction, though. He returned with three impressive late-season wins, showing maturity and growth. After his benching, PFF highlighted that he was leading all QBs in big‑time throw rate (7.4%), alongside also topping in turnover‑worthy play rate (4.7%). This evolution of Richardson didn’t go unnoticed as head coach Shane Steichen praised his efforts in December, saying, “His pocket presence has been really strong… He delivers the ball where it needs to go. He’s making a ton of plays with his legs.” Heading into the new season, Richardson has taken another leap in his path of growth.

The Colts quarterback took to Instagram with a post to show that he is ready to start the season, not just as a QB but as a role model, too. A young prospect himself, the signal-caller spent one morning training alongside little kids and giving them his autograph. But as much as the day was memorable for the children, it was for Richardson, too. He took to Instagram and shared a couple of snaps and captioned it, “used to dream about being able to do this, now i’m doing it. forever grateful for all the blessings and lessons that i’ve attained along the way! God did!”

The training was a part of his Anthony Richardson Football Skills Academy to give back to children in the Gainesville, Florida area. In fact, his first post about the camp read: “Gainesville, you showed up and showed out! A massive THANK YOU and huge shout out to everyone who attended the Anthony Richardson Football Skills Academy and Community Giveback at Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida – Alachua County. Your support inspires me to continue giving back to the city that shaped me into the player/person I am today! Appreciate everyone who helped make this possible!

“I’m incredibly grateful to our amazing sponsors for making this possible: Coca-Cola, LRG, City of Gainesville, University of Florida Athletics, Chick-fil-A, Alachua County Public Schools, Make It Happen, Wembe Marketing, Meely Pops, The Volunteers, The Fighting Gator Touchdown Club, Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille, CortX, AJ Jewelry, The Conlan Company, NFLPA, Fanatics, Nike, and especially The SVE Firm, Legacy Sports Advisors, and V Brown & Company Inc., Xclusive Eatz and Katz Soul Cuisine. Together, we’re building a brighter future for our youth! Let’s keep pushing forward! Looking forward to next year, til next time!”

The training had taken place on June 21 and was a first-of-its-kind partnership because not only was it free, but it also included a Parent Summit, hosted by LaShawnda Cleare, Richardson’s mother.

So, as Anthony Richardson further lays the groundwork with raw talent and a spirit of gratitude, the Colts have quietly steadied the ship behind the scenes. With Richardson now sidelined by a re-aggravated AC joint injury, a seismic shift in Indianapolis’s quarterback landscape is underway.

Daniel Jones rises as a favorite for the Indianapolis Colts’ QB job over Anthony Richardson

The QB battle in the Colts’ locker room is heating up with each passing moment. As it stands, Richardson’s shoulder injury led him to miss the OTAs and minicamp, with no firm timetable for return. In a situation of immediate action, the Indianapolis team brought in Daniel Jones on a one-year, $14 million deal, potentially pushing to $17.7 million with incentives, showcasing a move pivoting towards reliable execution, proven leadership, and health durability in the short term.

Jones flexes experience across a 6-year career with the New York Giants (70 TDs, 47 INTs in 69 starts), and now, in a Colts offense that features promising talent like Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce, he serves as a sturdy bridge quarterback, or perhaps a contender for long-term stability. With roughly 170 reps allotted to each during nine OTA sessions, Jones’s intelligence, leadership, and quick assimilation of the playbook are creating a clear momentum. And one important positive review came from the Colts’ head coach himself. Shane Steichen said, “Very pleased with what we got right now. He’s been doing a hell of a job… Really smart football player. Learned the offense very quickly, making really good decisions out there through OTAs. Obviously, want to carry that over to training camp, but he’s done a really good job. Great command in the huddle. Ultimate pro.” 

Emphasizing his experience and whether Steichen’s side could rely on him, the head coach added, “He’s a veteran player. Obviously, like I said, very intelligent. He works at it, grinds at it. So, not surprised on how he’s picked up the offense. Obviously, those meetings we have in the quarterback room with those guys — the conversations that we have, they’ve been really good. So, been very pleased with him.” So Richardson’s talent ceiling and offseason defenses offer hope. Whether he can rise to the stage is totally on him. Ultimately, the Colts are building towards stability, with Jones poised to lead for now and Richardson looking after his health for now.