Colts Training Camp Battles: QB

Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones are set to face off for the Colts starting QB job tomorrow. Who has the edge in this battle?

Quarterback: Anthony Richardson VS Daniel Jones

The headliner of the camp battles, 3rd Year Anthony Richardson vs new Free Agent QB Daniel Jones freshly signed on his $14 million deal for 1 year.

Richardson has the advantages of youth, athleticism/better rushing, arm strength/ball velocity, and sack avoidance.

Jones has the advantages of experience, better accuracy, quicker reads, and being farther away from his previous injuries.

Richardson will need to show development as a passer after dedicating his offseason to train with Josh Allen’s passing biomechanics coach, or risk Jones beating him out in camp

Both Richardson and Jones have struggled with injuries during their careers. With Richardson its been in the form of back and foot injuries that cost him the last 2 games of the 2024 season along with a recent small reaggravation of his AC joint in his throwing shoulder this offseason that he originally suffered from in 2023. Good news is Richardson is reportedly a full go for Training Camp per ESPN’s Stephen Holder and 24/7 Sports’ Zach Goodall.

Daniel Jones most recently dealt with a pinched cervical nerve in his neck in October 2023, before suffering a season ending Grade 3 ACL tear that November. He has since started 10 games in 2024 for the New York Giants before being benched in favor of Tommy DeVito and later Drew Lock.

It is a make or break year for Richardson to avoid the dreaded bust label and protect the job security of General Manager Chris Ballard, as well as a make or break year for Jones to prove he can still be a starting QB in the NFL after an up and down career in New York. With both having injury histories as well as inconsistency, don’t rule out the initial QB2 from this battle getting playing time eventually in 2025 either.

Pre-Camp Favorite: Anthony Richardson

Richardson won previous starting competitions against Gardner Minshew and Joe Flacco, with both having cases of being better QBs than Daniel Jones in the NFL. With Jones the Colts wouldn’t have to limit their run scheme like they did with his two less-mobile predecessors. But Jones’ struggles have been well documented in New York as a passer, struggling with accuracy, ball placement, and decision making with the Giants. He also as of late has been much less aggressive in pushing the ball down field as ESPN’s Mina Kimes noted in the video above, so Steichen would still have to change up his passing playbook and game plan significantly to fit Jones’ skillset.

New Colts Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon even said that she believes Richardson has time to prove himself.

While it is still a competition, it’s clear the Colts owner still has belief in Richardson’s potential in the NFL. Neither her nor General Manager Chris Ballard haven’t given up on the young passer, and wish to give him every opportunity to succeed.