The patience is running thin. Some might argue that it has already run dry in Indy… Anthony Richardson in Sophomore year was still holding dear to his college ways. The result? For a 4th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, he has been anything but the QB they can rely on! The frustration is palpable, with fans calling for him to “bust or take responsibility.” Ouch! 

It’s not new for a fanbase to go all attack mode on their signal-caller for not doing the job he is being paid to do! And here we are, yet again…

So, that’s why you have GM Chris Ballard trying to step in and play peacemaker. Well, things are already outta hand, Ballard. This might be the case of too little, too late. Sigh! He went on about Richardson’s benching, as he admitted, “He was drowning. I didn’t feel the same poise… Mentally, it was going really fast for him.” Translation? AR needed a breather.

Ballard even said he wished the benching had lasted longer—because Richardson needed a hard reset. That’s not exactly a glowing endorsement of your franchise QB. And to add salt to the wound, Ballard dropped the truth bomb: “He’s got to stay healthy. That, to me, is the biggest question.”

But who else could they rely on? Joe Flacco? That was a hit and a miss… The reason why Ballard couldn’t get his wish for a longer breather for AR… You see, the vet came in as Richardson’s replacement, but calling his performance “mixed” is putting it kindly. Sure, Flacco had moments. What a solid 330-yard, 2-touchdown game against the Giants, he had!

But he also threw three ugly picks against the Bills. His numbers? 1,497 yards, 11 touchdowns, 7 interceptions in six games. Decent, but not playoff worthy from Indy’s POV. The offense struggled to find any rhythm under Flacco, leaving fans wondering if either QB could truly lead the team. I mean, when your QB1 is not in the mood, and your QB2 can’t really tick off the basic boxes… That’s more than trouble.

Remember the Texans game in week 8. With the Colts at 4-3 and facing a 5-2 Houston squad, you’d expect Richardson to be ready for battle. Nope. Instead, he kneeled on the sideline while Flacco took over. This didn’t sit well with anyone—especially Pat McAfee. The former Colt tweeted, “I had never seen an NFL QB tap out while still being healthy until watching Anthony Richardson…”

Richardson’s struggles go beyond just one game. His completion rate is a dismal 44.4%, and he’s thrown more interceptions than touchdowns. Benched multiple times, he’s also faced accusations of dodging accountability—a cardinal sin for a quarterback. Fans expect their QB to be the leader, the heartbeat of the team. Right now, AR is anything but.

So where does that leave the Colts? With a frustrated fanbase, an unsteady QB situation, and no clear path forward. Ballard is right about one thing: they need competition at the position. And maybe a reshuffle. Only if that could spark a redemption season from AR then why not?…

2025: Anthony Richardson’s last chance to prove

Let’s talk about the elephant in the Colts’ locker room—Anthony Richardson. Sure, Chris Ballard made some coaching reshuffles, saying goodbye to DBs coach Ron Milus and LBs coach Richard Smith, but can we get real for a second? How about giving AR some actual help on offense? Maybe a weapon or two? Or, you know, a little competition to light a fire under him?

Richardson himself seems to get it. He said, “I feel like you have to be intentional about every single thing you’re doing every minute of the day.” Sounds great on paper, right? But the numbers tell a different story. In 2024, Richardson played 11 games and went 6-5. Not terrible, but not exactly lighting up the scoreboard either. He threw for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns, and a concerning 12 interceptions. Oh, and let’s not forget his nine fumbles. Even Joe Flacco, at 39, managed to keep pace with Richardson in yardage and threw fewer interceptions. That’s… not great for a supposed franchise QB.

And yet, you can’t ignore Richardson’s potential. His athleticism? Off the charts. When he’s on, he’s electrifying. But staying healthy has been his Achilles’ heel—just 15 games over two seasons. Ballard isn’t sugarcoating it either. He admitted the Colts need competition at quarterback, and that’s not just lip service. Whether it’s Flacco returning or a new face stepping in, Richardson is going to have to fight for that starting spot in 2025.

Speaking of fresh faces, let’s talk about Tyler Warren. The 6’6″, 257-pound tight end out of Penn State is turning heads. In 2024, Warren put up 98 receptions for 1,158 yards and eight touchdowns. That’s not just good; that’s elite. He’s versatile too—able to line up anywhere on the field, even under center in a Wildcat formation. Imagine pairing him with Richardson. Suddenly, the Colts’ offense doesn’t look so one-dimensional anymore.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. The Colts have big decisions to make in free agency. Names like Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, and Kirk Cousins (once Atlanta cuts ties) are floating around. Do they gamble on a seasoned vet, or stick with Richardson and hope he finally delivers? Either way, Ballard’s clock is ticking. Jim Irsay’s patience has been worn thinner than the Colts’ playoff chances in recent years.

2025 isn’t just a pivotal year for Richardson—it’s do-or-die for the Colts’ entire front office. Four straight seasons without a playoff berth and no postseason win since 2018? That’s a streak nobody wants to see continue.