Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones on Colts' QB competition after Day 1 of training camp

USA Today

4 days ago

Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones discussed the Colts' QB competition after the first training camp practice.
Following the Indianapolis Colts' first training camp practice, head coach Shane Steichen mentioned that he sat down with both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, laying out what he's looking for in this competition and what the next month of practices and games will look like.
In short, Steichen--as he has said all offseason--is searching for consistency at the game's most important position. To see who can best provide that, Richardson and Jones will be splitting first-team reps, as they did during Wednesday's practice.
"I think just performing at a high level and showing consistency," Jones said, via Colts.com. "My preparation, consistency on the field and my performance. It's a long process, and focusing on kind of what I'm doing day to day I think is the best way to go about it, so that's what I'm focused on."
With Richardson sidelined during most of OTAs and minicamp, Jones was able to take the bulk of the first-team reps at that time. While his performance in May and June won't earn him the starting job, Steichen did say during minicamp that he was "very pleased" with Jones' performance.
Richardson took some time off to let his shoulder rest, but has been throwing the last several weeks, as GM Chris Ballard mentioned on Tuesday.
Steichen didn't say that Richardson was behind entering training after missing those reps in OTAs and minicamp, but did mention that urgency--from both Richardson and Jones--is needed.
'When it comes to competition, of course I'm competing with Daniel, but I'm also competing with myself," Richardson said, via the Indy Star. "Trying to be a better version of myself than I was last year."
Although he's practicing, Richardson is still on a volume restriction for the time being. In order not to impact the competition and to make sure both quarterbacks get equal first-team reps, that rest period for Richardson will come during the individual portions of practice.
A priority for Richardson this offseason has been on his footwork to become more accurate on those short to intermediate throws. For a quarterback, that is where accuracy and fundamentally sound mechanics often begin.
"It's just loving the process," Richardson said. "These past two years, I've definitely tried to embrace that a little bit more. Everybody wants success, right here, right now. I feel like sometimes when you get success it's not really all what it seems. The process is really the best thing. That's really what I'm trying to enjoy now."