Things are getting real uneasy in the Circle City. Shane Steichen isn’t overseeing a fiery quarterback battle—he’s dealing with a full-blown QB dilemma. Last month, there was a buzz that Daniel Jones, the new arrival, was pulling ahead of Anthony Richardson. But fast forward to now, and that momentum has totally fizzled out. Reports say both QBs are falling flat; hence, the HC is trying to sort out every barrier for them.

As The Athletic’s James Boyd broke down, neither QB is setting training camp on fire. Jones has gone just 23-of-41 with a single touchdown and one interception in 11-on-11s. Richardson? Slightly worse at 19-of-43, but with two touchdowns and a pick. Sure, Richardson had a better Friday showing, but outside of that one blip, it’s been rough all around. So much so that Colts fans across Lucas Oil Stadium have more questions than optimism right now.

That said, Indy’s front office isn’t just sitting on its hands. In a move that could directly benefit Jones, the Colts just locked up left tackle Bernhard Raimann on a massive four-year, $100 million extension, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Raimann, once considered a raw third-round prospect out of Central Michigan, has quickly developed into a top-tier tackle. At just 27, he’s entering his prime, and this deal reflects exactly how much value the Horseshoe sees in his protection skills.

Interestingly, the deal wasn’t always guaranteed. Just recently, Raimann revealed the two sides weren’t on the same page. “From my understanding is that the numbers don’t always quite add up yet,” he admitted. “The way they … They might value (the) position differently than (what) my team thinks it is, but we’re working on things.” Clearly, they worked fast and got things across the line just in time to impact the QB situation.

Moreover, Raimann isn’t just getting paid for potential. He’s a cornerstone. Right beside Quenton Nelson, he’s easily one of the top offensive assets in Indy. When he’s healthy, there’s zero concern about him going toe-to-toe with elite pass rushers. And with the Colts needing to protect two QBs who aren’t making life easy right now, that security up front becomes even more valuable.

Finally, the numbers back up the contract. According to Pro Football Focus, Raimann ranked as the eighth-best tackle in the NFL last season. He allowed only four sacks and just 20 pressures in 471 pass-blocking snaps. Whether it’s Daniel Jones or Richardson under center, the Colts clearly believe Raimann can keep the pocket clean—and maybe, just maybe, give one of them the spark they so desperately need because the competition is still alive.

NFL analyst picks Richardson over Jones in Colts’ QB race?

So far into Colts camp, it’s been anything but a one-man show at quarterback. Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson Sr. have both had their flashes, but the reps are starting to tell a story of their own. Over the last few days, Richardson has quietly begun pulling ahead, taking more first-team snaps. ESPN insider Dan Graziano is reading between the lines, too—and like most of Colts Nation, he’s starting to believe it’s Richardson’s job to lose.

That shift didn’t come out of nowhere. Graziano had Jones leading the race earlier this summer, mostly due to Richardson’s shoulder setback. But things have changed fast. “Training camp is where Richardson looks the best — if he’s healthy, he’s likely to outperform Jones on the practice field,” Graziano wrote. Then came the clincher: “The Colts also have a lot more invested in Richardson, and if it’s a close competition, most people I talk to believe that will tilt things in his favor — at least to start the season.”

Still, the analyst isn’t blind to the risks. While he’s bullish on Richardson’s upside, he’s quick to point out the gaps, too. “Training camp is where Richardson looks the best…,” Graziano said again, but also noted that availability has been an issue. Richardson has only played in 15 of a possible 34 games—hardly ideal for a long-term plan.

And here’s the twist: Indy’s got the longest AFC South title drought going. Pressure’s mounting on GM Chris Ballard. If Richardson stumbles early, don’t be shocked if Jones gets his chance.