The quarterback battle in Indianapolis just took an unexpected turn. The Colts had been easing into training camp, trying to piece things together. In the quarterback room, the choices were Anthony Richardson, now in his third year, and offseason arrival Daniel Jones. The latter had always been the wild card. Plenty of questions surrounded him, and none had been answered yet. But HC Shane Steichen seemed determined to keep things fair. Just before camp, he reminded everyone, “Every rep matters… every walkthrough matters… everything’s being evaluated.” And he meant it. 

During training camp, Shane Steichen split first-team reps right down the middle. Both the Colts’ quarterbacks got their share in red-zone drills, third-down plays, and two-minute situations. Was it about fairness, or was Steichen simply unsure who to trust? Either way, the strategy kept the suspense alive. But then, after a joint practice with the Ravens, Steichen revealed Anthony Richardson would start the Colts’ preseason opener. Jones would take the next game. Simple enough. The message was clear – the competition wasn’t over. Both would get equal opportunities to prove themselves before Week 1. That seemed fair. But no one could have expected what happened next. 

The Colts’ preseason opener against the Ravens began with promise. Anthony Richardson moved the offense into field goal range on the opening drive, completing two of his first three passes for 21 yards. But then, everything changed in the second series, and disaster struck the Colts. Richardson sprinted off the field, clutching his throwing hand. Trainers swarmed him on the sideline. Then came the viral moment – photos of Richardson’s pinky finger, twisted at a shocking angle, spread across the internet. It looked bad. Really bad. How did that transpire?

During the second series, Baltimore’s David Ojabo came screaming off the edge – completely unblocked. Tight end Tyler Warren had released into his route instead of staying in to block. Running back D.J. Giddens could have chipped Ojabo but didn’t. The lane was wide open. Richardson, in shotgun, barely set his feet before Ojabo drilled him in the upper body. The hit knocked him to the turf instantly. Richardson was then ruled out for the rest of the game. Some analysts wasted no time pointing fingers at Richardson. Hall of Famer Kurt Warner didn’t hold back. On social media, he criticized Richardson’s decision-making: “AR has to see this and dish to the RB or TE to the right!” His criticism seemed valid considering what happened next with the Colts. 

With Richardson out, Daniel Jones came in to take over the Colts’ offense. Thrust into the spotlight, Daniel Jones had a golden chance to prove himself. Instead, he struggled to move the offense. No touchdowns. No big plays. The Colts eventually fell 24-16 to the Ravens. But the bigger loss was Richardson. The real question now: How bad is the injury?

How bad is Anthony Richardson’s finger injury?

Anthony Richardson’s injury wasn’t the only heartbreak in this game. Ravens rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone tore his ACL and MCL in his first NFL appearance. His season ended before it even started. Football can be cruel that way – one play changes everything. And Anthony Richardson has had many run-ins with the injury bug. He’s already missed 17 games in his first two seasons. Now, another injury to his throwing hand could keep him out for the early part of the regular season. So it’s crucial to know what’s the extent of the damage for Richardson. 

At halftime, Shane Steichen updated team reporter Larra Overton. The diagnosis? A dislocated finger. “It was just a dislocation. Popped it and popped back in,” Steichen explained. But here’s the kicker – he admitted he didn’t know how long Richardson would be out. A dislocation might sound minor compared to a fracture, but quarterbacks live and die by grip strength and accuracy. Any damage to the throwing hand could linger. Surgery isn’t off the table. And if Richardson needs it, he could miss several weeks. That’s a huge setback during a critical preseason stretch.

For a quarterback who was expected to take a major leap in 2025, the timing couldn’t be worse. Richardson has the kind of explosiveness that changes games. Think Miami’s De’Von Achane, but at QB. ESPN projected Achane for 1,000 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns this year. Richardson had that same kind of upside in the passing and rushing game combined. 

Moreover, Anthony Richardson’s preseason was supposed to be about proving he was the future of the Colts. The QB competition was supposed to be neck and neck for the Colts, as Steichen himself said. Now, it’s on pause. If you’re a Colts fan, you’re asking: Will Richardson be ready in time? The next few weeks will shape not only the Colts’ 2025 season but possibly their long-term plans at quarterback.