Colts Quarterback Richardson Names Jones as Backup for 2025 Season

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson announced on Tuesday that Daniel Jones will be the backup as the 2025 season kicks off.

Richardson, who was the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, faced challenges including injuries and inconsistent performance, leading the Colts to make a strategic decision just weeks before the regular season begins. The team’s first game is against the Miami Dolphins on September 7th.

Quarterback agent Derrick Jackson shared his thoughts on the Colts’ decision, critiquing some of the choices made by head coach Shane Steichen. He suggested these decisions could undermine the trustworthiness of the organization. Jackson mentioned, “Trust is a big factor, and at best it’s doubtful right now. Anthony came back and worked on areas for improvement, and by all accounts, he had a great camp.” It seems that trust is on shaky ground.

Reflecting on 2024, Jackson pointed out that the pressure was often put on Richardson to deliver big plays, despite him being benched in a couple of games. He ended up racking up 1,814 yards and eight touchdown passes, finishing 6-5 in the 11 games he started.

Interestingly, Steichen opted for a former New York Giants player over Richardson. Despite this decision, Richardson expressed no ill feelings towards his head coach, a sentiment that might be surprising to some.

“I think I could have said I was somewhat surprised, but at the end of the day I knew someone had to be on this edge of the stick. I feel like I’ve improved. There have been improvements, but there are still ways to improve. Even so, I can become a better player and become a league starter,” he noted, hinting at a determination to grow further in his role.