Colts QB depth chart: What we know about Anthony Richardson vs. Daniel Jones
This week offers a first glimpse at those depth charts as teams release them ahead of their first preseason games. That includes the Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts are entering year three with coach Shane Steichen and quarterback Anthony Richardson, who the team selected No. 4 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Richardson's played just 15 games over his first two seasons and gone 8-7 as a starter.
This offseason, Indianapolis signed veteran quarterback Daniel Jones to provide some depth at the position with starting experience. Given Richardson's injury history, having Jones in the building could help keep the team afloat should he miss time again.
But Indianapolis made the curious move to not commit to a QB1 in their first depth chart announcement of training camp. Instead, they list the starting quarterback as Richardson or Jones.
'Both have been doing a really good job,' Steichen said earlier this week. 'Both of them have made plays at a high level the last couple days, and that's what you want to see. You want to see growth, you want to see completions, you want to see the offense moving up and down the field.'
Steichen hasn't indicated which way he's leaning for the starter in the Colts' preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens on the road. He stated that both Richardson and Jones will see time but hasn't specified who will be under center to start the game.
Even then, Steichen's made it clear that the competition is far from decided.
'They'll play a good amount,' Steichen said. 'I mean, one will play a good amount this game, and the next one will probably play a good amount the next game.'
Riley Leonard, the Colts' sixth-round pick (No. 189 overall) in the 2025 NFL Draft, is behind Richardson and Jones on the depth chart as QB2. Former undrafted free agent Jason Bean rounds out the depth chart.
Indianapolis plays Baltimore in its preseason opener on Thursday, Aug. 7 before facing the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 16 and the Cincinnati Bengals on Aug. 23.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colts QB depth chart: Latest on Richardson, Jones
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New York Times
21 minutes ago
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DeMarvin Leal: With a tweener body type, Leal has never been able to carve out his niche on defense. He's been playing mostly as an outside linebacker in camp, but the Steelers already have four locks in T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer. I could see Leal landing on the outside looking in after cut-down day. Needed improvements in run game: Through three practices in pads, the offense has struggled to find anywhere to run the ball. Maybe the Steelers' remade defensive front is just that good. But as Sunday's goal-line period showed, even when they only need a yard, it's been tough sledding. Vertical passing game: Metcalf has been one of the NFL's best deep threats throughouth his career. So far in team settings (seven-on-seven and 11-on-11), Rodgers and Metcalf haven't been able to take the top off the defense at all. The optimistic way to look at this is that the defense is doing a better job of staying on top of verticals (in part because of coverage changes). But if opponents know that they don't have to worry about the go ball, it's going to make short, quick passes more challenging to convert.
