Stephen Holder
WESTFIELD, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts vowed way back to permit the quarterback battle between Anthony Richardson Sr. and Daniel Jones to play out so long as essential.
“I feel all of it issues, all of it counts,” coach Shane Steichen stated. “Each rep issues. Each walkthrough issues. Each assembly issues. All of it issues. So, all the things's being evaluated.”
However after greater than three weeks of coaching camp — the Colts wrapped up following Thursday's joint apply with the Inexperienced Bay Packers — there doesn't seem like apparent separation between the 2 gamers heading into Saturday's preseason matchup with Inexperienced Bay.
“These guys are each good gamers which have performed good soccer on this league, and we anticipated them to come back out and compete actually, actually exhausting,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter stated. “We anticipated competitors to convey out one of the best in each of them, and that is what we're seeing.”
Steichen hasn't indicated when he hopes to achieve a call, leaving the Colts because the uncommon NFL staff that also hasn't decided a starter at its most essential place after coaching camp. Indianapolis is considered one of simply three groups this season that hasn't but named a beginning quarterback, becoming a member of the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints.
“I am excited to see whoever they select again there,” receiver Josh Downs stated. “I've seen progress from every.”
The starter stays undecided, however this is what was established throughout coaching camp: The Colts have two very totally different quarterbacks whose strengths and weaknesses had been additional solidified through the weeks of labor they put in.
They've seen Richardson present vital strides within the areas the place he is struggled most, like his brief and intermediate accuracy and relatedly, his once-sloppy footwork. That resulted in higher total effectivity from Richardson and are welcome developments after he completed final season with a league-low 47.7% completion fee. He is accomplished quite a few throws in opposition to tight protection that had teammates and coaches buzzing.
“You have to throw these tight-window throws on this league,” Steichen stated.
Richardson has additionally proven himself to be a greater decision-maker, typically avoiding alarming interceptions throughout camp. That was a supply of concern final season, when he had a league-high interception fee of 4.5%. There appeared to be organization-wide settlement that this was Richardson's finest camp since he was chosen fourth total by the Colts in 2023.
#Colts Quenton Nelson speaking about Daniel Jones & Anthony Richardson after Sunday's apply. Says Richardson's having his finest camp ever. pic.twitter.com/FLPwwQwwet
— Jared Koch (@jjaredkoch) August 11, 2025
However coaching camp nonetheless confirmed Richardson to be considerably boom-or-bust. He routinely confirmed the massive arm that allowed him to steer the NFL in air yards per try in 2024 (11.4). Nevertheless, Richardson additionally had the occasional inexplicable miss on simple throws, resulting in a handful of days in camp when he accomplished fewer than 50% of his makes an attempt in 11-on-11 motion.
It wasn't remotely near his 2024 efficiency, when he was thought of “off-target” on greater than 25% of his makes an attempt — simply greater than the second-worst participant in that space, the Chicago Bears' Caleb Williams (21%). Nevertheless it was sufficient that his accuracy might stay a problem for his coaches.
It additionally did not assist that Richardson misinterpret a blitz within the Colts' preseason opener in opposition to Baltimore that resulted in him taking a brutal hit from an unblocked defender, leaving Richardson with a dislocated pinkie on his throwing hand.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, there's Jones.
He was extra constantly correct via camp, as one would anticipate seeing how his profession completion fee of 64.1% is greater than 13 factors greater than Richardson's. Jones has nonetheless not mastered the Colts' offense, given his latest arrival in free company in March. However his veteran standing confirmed, as he appeared to have good command of the scheme regardless of being in his first season within the system.
However when Jones pushed the ball downfield, outcomes had been often sporadic. That is maybe not stunning for a participant who has been principally conservative as a passer throughout his profession. Jones was thirty fifth amongst quarterbacks in yards per try (6.1) within the 10 video games he began with the New York Giants final season. The league common final season was 7.3.
To place Jones' passing into perspective, contemplate the next: Jones accomplished 90 extra passes than Richardson final season. Nonetheless, he totaled simply 256 extra passing yards.
In the long run, whereas the 2 quarterbacks provide totally different types, the unanswered query is whether or not they'll produce vastly totally different outcomes.
Apparently, there's one space the place their previous statistical manufacturing is essentially the identical. Jones and Richardson ranked twenty fifth and twenty ninth in QBR final season, which suggests there may not be a lot discernible distinction between the general outcomes of their performances.
So, who's profitable this battle? Who is aware of. However the Colts are resting their hopes on the competitors bringing out every participant's finest — regardless of who winds up with the job.
“It hasn't been excellent,” Cooter stated. “We get our pluses and our minuses.
“However I feel it's elevating the extent of every of them.”
