How many training camps does a franchise quarterback really get before the clock stops ticking? That’s the uneasy question hanging over Indianapolis this summer. And it’s not just coming from the fans or local talk shows. Inside the Colts’ own building, there’s a growing awareness that Anthony Richardson’s “future” needs to start looking a lot more like the present. “He’s a young player; he’s got work to do, but we like his talent,” GM Chris Ballard said on draft day. That was back in 2023. Now, with another camp underway and Richardson still more potential than production, time suddenly feels less like a luxury and more like a countdown.

The Colts didn’t just take a swing when they drafted Richardson fourth overall… They invested in a long play. They were willing to wait. But what was once framed as a high-ceiling project now looks clouded by injuries and inconsistency. And with Daniel Jones now in the fold, the game’s on now. Richardson was supposed to be the next Cam Newton. Instead, fans are wondering if he can stay upright for a full season, let alone win the job outright. The leash is shorter. The stakes are higher. And for Richardson, the path to QB1 suddenly feels a lot more urgent.

And right now, it doesn’t look like he will have that place. According to multiple reports, Jones has quietly seized control of the QB1 race before pads have even gone on. After a shoulder flare-up derailed Richardson’s offseason, Jones took the lion’s share of OTA reps, nearly 170 across nine sessions. That wasn’t charity work. That was the groundwork.

“It already feels like Jones will be the Week 1 starter,” wrote Mike Florio, giving voice to what many inside the building already sense: this job might be his to lose. And if recent reports are accurate, that’s not the only title Jones is chasing. FOX Sports’ Henry McKenna called the former Giants QB a “contract collision course” candidate, with the number $40 million now floating in serious team discussions. If the gap is not closed by Richardson as soon as possible, then he’s not just in danger of sitting, but he’s in danger of fading from the franchise’s long-term vision entirely.

The context only sharpens the spotlight, as the Colts have other problems too. General Manager Chris Ballard, the man who took Richardson and publicly asked fans for patience, is reportedly tying his own future to whichever quarterback wins now. “If you don’t make the playoffs with Daniel Jones, your job is out the door,” said CBS’ Mike Renner. The same Jones the Giants gave up on. The same Jones who cost Indy just $15 million on a prove-it deal. The redemption arc is already crafting itself. What about Richardson? He looks more like a side story than the main one. With missed games, back spasms, midseason fatigue, and a troubling 67.8 career QB rating, those aren’t just growing pains anymore. Those are red flags.

With Anthony Richardson in question, the Colts’ offensive weapons can’t wait forever

Here’s the irony that whoever wins this quarterback tug-of-war walks into one of the most underrated offenses in the AFC. Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon said something that raises eyebrows: “Whoever wins this battle will be a 20-something first-round pick with a fire lit under them, and they’ll be working within a relatively weak division.” That means something. This would be a different topic if Richardson had shown even a little bit of consistency.

The offensive weapons are not the problem. Jonathan Taylor returned to Pro Bowl form in 2024, rushing for 1,431 yards and 11 TDs. Michael Pittman Jr. played through a back fracture and still produced. Josh Downs led the team with 72 catches and is turning into Shane Steichen’s go-to chain mover. Alec Pierce caught an average of 22.3 yards per reception, which is a lot. Rookie TE Tyler Warren, who won the 2024 Mackey Award, gives you a supporting cast that’s not just playoff-worthy—it might be great, given the upside.

But none of that matters if there is no stability under center. Richardson should be the guy who unlocks this unit’s ceiling, especially with his legs and big-play instincts. But then the question arises: how can you build a system around someone who’s missed more games than he’s played? Even Pierce’s potential as a deep threat is limited by who is throwing the ball. If Jones wins, anticipate better ball control and success in short yardage situations, but not the big plays that Indy wanted. But that might be what keeps them in games and Ballard in the building.

So, the Colts are in a pickle. One guy can raise the roof but might never stay upright long enough to matter; the other has already flattened his own ceiling but looks more durable, more disciplined, and, as the season approaches, perhaps more ready. What’s worse than a star quarterback who doesn’t work out? You missed the playoffs and your GM because you bet on him for too long.

Indy has weapons. It has opportunity. The Colts still have time… barely. But if Anthony Richardson cannot reciprocate Ballard’s faith in him, fans will remember him as this era’s biggest “what if.” And Daniel Jones? He might just be the $40 million answer to a question no one in Indianapolis was even asking.