Colts Name Daniel Jones as Starting Quarterback
The Indianapolis Colts revealed the results of their quarterback competition on Tuesday, announcing that Daniel Jones will lead the team as the starting quarterback against the Miami Dolphins, as stated by Coach Shane Steichen at a press conference. Jones managed to secure the role over Anthony Richardson, who was a former fourth overall pick.
“He’s our starting quarterback for the season,” Steichen stated, expressing his confidence in Jones’s abilities. He preferred not to dwell too much on the situation but emphasized his belief in Jones.
Throughout training camp and the initial preseason games, Jones and Richardson shared the first-team reps. In the two preseason matches, Jones completed 17 of 32 passes for 245 yards, without any touchdowns or interceptions. Richardson, on the other hand, left his first game with an injury after just six plays, completing two of three passes for 21 yards. In the Colts’ second preseason game against the Packers, Richardson fared a bit better, completing six of 11 passes for 73 yards.
Jones joined the Colts in the offseason on a one-year contract after a challenging period with the New York Giants, who released him midway through last season. Following his release, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings, although he didn’t play in any games for them.
Over his career, Jones has started 69 games with a record of 24-44-1. Last year, he completed about 63% of his passes for 2,070 yards, recording eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. During his time as a starter, the Giants’s performance was dismal, ending with a 2-8 record.
As for Richardson, he has had a rough start in his first two NFL seasons. In 15 career games, he holds a record of 8-7, but his statistics paint a more complex picture. He completed only 50% of his passes for roughly 2,391 yards, having more interceptions (13) than touchdowns (11). However, he shines more as a runner, accumulating 635 rushing yards and 10 career rushing touchdowns, averaging nearly six yards per attempt.
Last season, the Colts finished with an 8-9 record, placing second in the AFC South. Coach Steichen is optimistic that Jones can help the team make a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
