Colts coach on QB competition: Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones to split spring reps

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PALM BEACH, Fla. — Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones will split first-team reps this offseason, Colts coach Shane Steichen said Monday at the annual league meetings at The Breakers resort. This further cements the QB competition GM Chris Ballard previously announced at the NFL Scouting Combine. Steichen added that he’ll have the final say on who starts, but he doesn’t have a definitive timeline for when he’ll make that decision.

“It’ll start in the spring. They’re gonna split the (starting) reps through spring practice and going into training camp,” Steichen said. “Really, it’s gonna come down to who’s the most consistent and who’s the most productive. (He) will be the starter.”

The Colts’ QB competition will officially begin April 21 during OTAs. Richardson, the 2023 No. 4 pick, is gearing up for what will likely be a make-or-break Year 3 in Indianapolis. He’s missed 17 games due to injury through his first two seasons, and he was benched for two games last season due to what Steichen labeled as a lack of game preparation. The 22-year-old finished his second year with eight passing TDs against 12 interceptions, plus six rushing touchdowns against three lost fumbles. He went 6-5 in 11 starts.

Meanwhile, Jones, the 2019 No. 6 pick, joined the Colts on a one-year, $14 million deal as he looks to revitalize his career after being released by the Giants last season. The 27-year-old went 24-44-1 in 69 regular-season starts across six years in New York. He led the Giants to the postseason in 2022 and won a playoff game, but he was 3-13 over his last two years with 10 TD passes against 13 interceptions, plus three rushing touchdowns against three lost fumbles during that span.

“He can run the ball with the zone read game. Obviously, he can throw the football, as well. His career completion is 64%, which is pretty good,” Steichen said as he explained the team’s decision to bring in Jones. “(He) has had some production, won a playoff game, high football IQ — really high football IQ — which is really good. … It’ll be a good competition between (him and Richardson).”

Richardson has started just 15 games through his first two years in the NFL after starting only 13 at Florida. Asked how splitting the starting reps with Jones this offseason could help or hurt Richardson’s development — when the Colts brass has previously stated he needs more reps to reach his potential — Steichen doubled down on the team’s plan to evaluate each passer.

“I think that’s part of the process right now that we’re going through, the competition,” Steichen said. “(Richardson’s) gonna have to take advantage of the reps that he gets. It’s a competition and competition makes everyone better.”

Steichen said he still believes in Richardson, but the franchise is seeking stability at quarterback, which it hasn’t really had since drafting Andrew Luck first in 2012. Since Luck abruptly retired ahead of the 2019 campaign, Indianapolis has started 10 quarterbacks over the past six years.

“The talent’s there. There’s no question about it,” Steichen said of Richardson. “The plays that he’s made on the football field are impressive. We’re just looking for that consistency on a daily basis.”

Required reading

• Colts 2025 NFL Draft big board: 10 prospects for Indy to consider on Day 2
• The book on Daniel Jones: Top traits, biggest weakness and why he gets so much hate

This news was originally published on this post .

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