If you’re examining Anthony Richardson’s stats from the first half of Thursday night’s preseason opener for the Indianapolis Colts, it’s important to keep this in mind: Statistics can be misleading.
His numbers looked decent on the surface. He completed 11 of 14 passes, which is solid, right? His quarterback rating was a fair 80.1.
Richardson also managed to lead the Colts on a touchdown drive in the second quarter.
However, let’s be clear. The stats that might make this first game of 2026 seem acceptable tell a different story. He threw an interception on his third pass and fumbled the ball shortly after. Not ideal at all.
Those mistakes will undoubtedly be highlighted, regardless of what coach Shane Steichen might say when reviewing the game film.
The plan for Richardson, intended to have him established as the franchise quarterback by year four in the NFL, hasn’t unfolded as expected. Instead, things went south on Thursday, dramatically undercutting those aspirations.
So, where does that leave us?
Richardson did lead a touchdown drive, which included an 18-yard and a 9-yard completion on screens, plus he ran for a touchdown and snuck in for another. This reminded everyone that he can be a formidable athlete on the field.
But, those turnovers overshadow everything. They drove home the point that Richardson hasn’t played enough over the past three seasons, and when he has, he hasn’t necessarily capitalized on the chances he was given.
When Richardson came to Indianapolis, he was seen as a huge prospect during the 2023 draft. Colts GM Chris Ballard selected him fourth overall, weighing his impressive physical attributes against the fact that he only started 13 games during his college career—something that was seen as a risk.
Initially, Richardson started just four games as a rookie due to a shoulder injury that cut his season short. In 2024, he returned as the starter and showed off his abilities as a runner, racking up 499 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Yet, his performance as a passer remained inconsistent.
Overall, he completed just 47.7% of his passes, with eight touchdowns and a staggering twelve interceptions. His season was marked by uncertainty; he even briefly lost his starting position after an injury. By the end of the year, many questions about his future lingered.
Then, things took a turn for the worse.
The Colts brought in Daniel Jones, who also had a rocky start in his career, to compete with Richardson. And frankly, it turned out that Jones won the job fairly comfortably.
Adding insult to injury, Richardson again couldn’t step up when Jones got hurt last year; he was sidelined himself due to yet another injury.
In fact, he got hurt just before a game while working out. The team had to rely on Riley Leonard and veteran Philip Rivers as alternatives.
Now at 24, Richardson no longer appears to be the future quarterback for the Colts. Instead, he’s in a race with Leonard for the backup position behind Jones. Neither really made a strong case; Leonard also threw an interception in his second drive of the second half.
So here’s hoping Daniel Jones can stay healthy in Indianapolis.
