Although he’ll start the regular season as a backup, Anthony Richardson can still be an impact player for the Indianapolis Colts this year. Richardson, of course, recently lost his starting quarterback job to Daniel Jones.
The Colts signed Jones this offseason to compete with Richardson. Most fans and experts believed Richardson would win the competition. Yet, Jones wound up becoming QB1.
Jones, who entered the NFL in 2019, has never been known as an elite quarterback. But there’s a chance he could have a great 2025 season and lead the Colts to the playoffs. Then again, Anthony Richardson could end up getting another opportunity at some point this season.
Anthony Richardson Can Still Be a Star for the Indianapolis Colts This Season
He Hasn’t Panned Out So Far
Colts fans were spoiled with a pair of star quarterbacks. First, the team landed Peyton Manning with the top pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. The former Tennessee Volunteer went on to become one of the greatest signal-callers in league history. Later, the Colts drafted Andrew Luck No. 1 overall in 2012. The four-time Pro Bowler would’ve been a Hall of Famer as well if he hadn’t retired early.
Indianapolis hasn’t had a franchise quarterback since Luck left. Anthony Richardson was supposed to be that guy, but that hasn’t been the case so far.
Indianapolis drafted Richardson fourth overall in 2023. The former Florida star has unfortunately struggled to stay healthy. During his rookie season, he played in only four games due to injury.
Richardson was expected to have a breakout year last season. However, that didn’t happen. He got injured again, was benched temporarily, and only completed 47.7 percent of his passes.
Richardson did show a few flashes, though, that he could become a star. He had a game-winning touchdown run in Week 11 against the New York Jets. Then, in Week 13 versus the New England Patriots, he orchestrated a 19-play drive capped off with a two-point conversion.
Will He Get Another Chance?
Colts head coach Shane Steichen insisted that Jones won’t be looking over his shoulder at Richardson every week.
“He’s the starting quarterback for the season,” Steichen said of Jones via the Indianapolis Star. “I don’t want to have a short leash on that.”
Sure, Steichen wants Jones to be the starter for the entire 2025 campaign. But that doesn’t mean it will happen that way.
Jones could get injured or be benched due to poor performance. He was benched last season during his time with the New York Giants.
If Jones does get hurt or demoted, Richardson will get an opportunity to show Steichen was wrong for choosing Jones. Richardson has a ton of potential and is extremely athletic. If he gets another chance, he could wind up having a breakout year in Indy. For that to happen, though, he must stay healthy and improve as a passer.
Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports wrote about Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young turning things around after it looked like his team was done with him:
“Bryce Young was benched just 18 games into his career – and two games into the 2024 season, after completing 56% of his throws without a touchdown, 3 interceptions, and 6 sacks in losses to the Saints and Chargers. At the time, it appeared that Young had played his last game for the Panthers. But five weeks later, Andy Dalton was injured in a car accident, Young got another opportunity, and he made the most of it. He started every game between Weeks 8-18, and over that span, he completed 62 percent of his passes.”
Many people think the Anthony Richardson experiment is now over in Indianapolis. They believe the Colts will trade him soon. But if he stays with the team and becomes QB1 again, don’t be shocked if he finally becomes a star in 2025.
Main Photo: [Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar] – USA Today Sports
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