The Indianapolis Colts are entering the 2025 season with a steep quarterback battle. Anthony Richardson would have been the clear-cut starter had the team retained Joe Flacco, but they instead brought in Daniel Jones.
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Despite Jones’ struggles with the New York Giants, he is a viable starter and has been battling it out with Richardson for the starting position with the Colts. Colts head coach Shane Steichen even referred to the battle as “neck-and-neck.”
Now, the Colts have released the first unofficial depth chart leading into Week 1 of preseason, and the team found a confusing and sly way of not naming a starting quarterback.
Colts first “unofficial depth chart” of the season lists their QB position like this: “Daniel Jones OR Anthony Richardson Sr.” pic.twitter.com/nSlD7kq8NK
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 4, 2025
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, the unofficial depth chart for the Colts states, “Daniel Jones OR Anthony Richardson Sr.”
Instead of causing issues on the team and with the media, the Colts chose to name both Jones and Richardson in the starting quarterback position. This is a clear way to state that the team has not yet chosen who will be behind center.
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Richardson had a rough 2024 season, which included more injuries and an incident where he pulled himself from the game during Week 8. His essential “quitting” on the team led to him being benched in favor of the aforementioned Flacco.
Flacco did not play well, and he was soon replaced by Richardson again after two games. Though Richardson is the right kind of talent, durability issues and pulling himself from a game did not help his cause.
Richardson missed most of his rookie season in 2023 due to an AC joint sprain, and he also missed time in 2024 due to an oblique injury. He may be a tough runner, but that style of play has also led to his taking unnecessary hits.
Jones, on the other hand, was under duress most of the time he was with the Giants. He suffered hit after hit due to a shaky offensive line, and also suffered a torn ACL in the 2023 season.
Jones has apparently been doing very well with the Colts and picking up the playbook with impressive speed.
It may sound a bit strange that the Colts are willing to give Jones the start over Richardson, but quarterback battles happen all the time. It would be shocking if Richardson were to lose the starting job, but that could be the case.
For now, the pair will see playing time in preseason, and Steichen will pick a starter presumably before Week 1 approaches. It could be sooner, but it is also rare that a quarterback battle like this is settled before all three preseason games shake out.
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