INDIANAPOLIS – It’s hard to imagine Shane Steichen experiencing one of those Eureka! moments Saturday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium.
He’s spent three weeks – longer, actually – with visions of Anthony Richardson Sr. and Daniel Jones bouncing around in his head.
Which one gives Steichen’s Indianapolis Colts the best chance to do something worthwhile in 2025, perhaps even snap a four-year playoff drought?
“It’s the very expensive question I think that everyone is wondering about,’’ owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said during the CBS4 broadcast of the Colts’ 23-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
“Shane is going to have a tough decision to make, but I feel confident he’s going to make the right decision.’’
Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023?
Or Jones, the No. 6 overall pick in ’19?
They’ve divvied up the reps in training camp and in the first two preseason games, although Richardson’s pitch count at Baltimore was limited to seven plays by a dislocated pinky on his right hand.
“I’ve seen obviously three weeks of it,’’ Steichen said. “I’d like to have a decision here shortly.’’
Does he have more clarity on the decision than 24 hours ago?
“Yeah, I feel pretty clean when I make that decision,’’ he said. “Again, when I make this decision, I’m going to do what I feel is best for this football team.’’
Has he already made up his mind but isn’t ready to announce it?
“I’m very close, I’ll say that,’’ Steichen said. “Very close.’’
It’s hard to imagine Saturday’s first half against the Packers tipped the scales in either quarterback’s favor. Instead, it probably reinforced Steichen’s mindset.
Jones started, led two drives that resulted in a punt and 25-yard Spencer Shrader field goal and completed 7-of-11 passes for 101 yards. Two plays could have greatly altered his stat line: he missed a wide-open Tyler Warren on the right side for what should have been a 25-30-yard gain and saw a 23-yard hookup with Anthony Gould wiped out by a holding penalty against AD Mitchell.
“I thought it went all right,’’ Jones said.
Richardson replaced Jones early in the second quarter finished the half. He displayed touch and arm strength while completing 6-of-11 for 73 yards. His three drives resulted in Tyler Goodson’s 3-yard touchdown run that capped a 12-play, 9-yard drive, a 29-yard Shrader field goal and a punt.
The third drive – 1:38 remaining in the second quarter, possession at the Indy 8 – could have been so much more. On third-and-2, Richardson delivered a crisp pass on the right side to Gould, who made a stretching, over-the-shoulder catch for 38 yards. Mitchell lined up offsides, negating the impressive throw-and-catch.
“I thought he make some good plays out there,’’ Steichen said.
Richardson felt he was in a “smooth rhythm’’ on his first drive. He completed 5-of-6 for 64 yards.
It began with a 9-yard completion to Gould, needed D.J. Gidden’s 1-yard run on third-and-1 to move the chains and heated up with a 21-yard completion to Drew Ogletree and 18-yarder to Ashton Dulin on consecutive plays.
After Richardson scrambled up the middle for 9 yards to convert a third-and-9 for a first-and-goal at the 10, Goodson finished things. His 3-yard TD followed a 7-yard gain.
The 2-minute opportunity at the end of the quarter was foiled by Mitchell lining up offsides and a third-down sack.
Rather than dwell on his extended work against the Packers, Richardson was asked more about his pursuit to be the Colts’ starter for the Sept. 7 opener against the Miami Dolphins.
Is he ready for the open competition to be closed?
“I will say yeah, but to be real, I haven’t really been thinking about it too, too much,’’ Richardson said. “I’ve just been trying to make sure I’m at the best of my abilities so when week 1 does pop up and if I am the guy, if I’m not the guy, I’m ready for anything that comes to me.
“It really doesn’t matter what I think at the end of the day. It’s really up to them. I feel like I’ve been trying to put my best foot forward, trying to grow each and every step of the way.
“If I do win the job, then ‘Thank God’. If not, then keep working.’’
Steichen reiterated that every bit of information will be considered.
“The operation, the communication, in the huddle, the checks, getting guys on the same page,’’ he said. “Consistency of all that is going to play a big factor in that.
“I’ll go back and look at it, but the operation. Just getting the completions, moving the ball up and down the field, taking what the defense gives you. I think both did some nice things.’’
Injuries mounting
The Colts entered the game with injury concerns and exited with several more.
Offensive tackle Blake Freeland suffered a fracture to his lower right leg that threatens his third season while running back Tyler Goodson was helped to the locker room late in the second quarter with his left elbow in a sling.
Freeland started at left tackle in place of Bernhard Raimann, who suffered an ankle injury in Thursday’s joint practice with the Packers.
Also, right tackle Braden Smith suffered a groin injury in the second quarter, rookie safety Hunter Wohler left in the first quarter with a foot injury and rookie cornerback Johnathan Edwards suffered a concussion.
Among players who missed the game with injuries: Raimann (ankle), wideouts Alec Pierce (groin) and Josh Downs (hamstring), cornerbacks Kenny Moore II (knee), Jaylon Jones (hamstring) and JuJu Brents (hamstring), safety Nick Cross (hip flexor), defensive ends Kwity Paye (groin) and Samson Ebukam (back) and linebacker Jaylon Carlies (ankle).
Shrader on target
Shrader reinforced coordinator Brian Mason’s decision to name him the Colts’ kicker. He was 4-for-4 against the Packers: 25, 29, 56 and 32 yards.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.