Colts Bout With Patriots Is Anthony Richardson Sr.'s Most Important Game

The story of Anthony Richardson Sr.'s three years with the Indianapolis Colts can be summed up in one word: sad.

Later tonight, the Colts will kick off their 2026 preseason at Gillette Stadium against the New England Patriots. While there is a plethora of players to watch, perhaps none will draw more attention than Richardson.

According to Shane Steichen, he'll start the game and play the first two halfs, with Riley Leonard finishing up the last portion. These two, of course, are competing for the backup QB job behind Daniel Jones.

While it's just a preseason game, it's perhaps the most important game of Richardson's career heading into year four after three seasons of utter disappointment.

In this piece, I'll detail just why this game holds so much weight for the embattled former fourth-overall pick.

Let's begin.

He's Still Competing for the Backup QB Job

Anthony Richardson Sr. throws a pass during pregame warmups. — Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) throws a pass Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The Colts defeated the Raiders 40-6. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Make no mistake, Richardson is still seeking a trade partner. However, nothing has materialized since it was requested back in February.

That means that he's still fighting for the QB2 role with Leonard. Since Richardson didn't put together an ideal training camp, he'll need to look much better against New England to have a chance of beating out Leonard.

We got a brief glimpse of Richardson's preseason performance last year, and the highlight was a brutal one.

In Week 1 of the 2025 preseason, Richardson faced the Baltimore Ravens, and let's just say it didn't end well.

In the first quarter, Richardson failed to identify the free runner, David Ojabo. This resulted in Richardson getting destroyed. This led to an injury to his throwing hand.

Anthony Richardson injured on this David Ojabo sack pic.twitter.com/BmiLEdpBuL
— Steve Palazzolo (@StevePalazzolo_) August 7, 2025

These are the mistakes that Richardson can't afford to make. There were so many wrinkles to this play.

Not only did Richardson not identify the unblocked defender, but he also avoided both of his hot reads while staring toward the wrong side of the field.

Richardson doesn't necessarily need to light the world on fire tonight, but he needs to be efficient, accurate, and intelligent under center. These are the basic requirements of an NFL quarterback, which he hasn't shown to this point.

If Richardson looks good and in control of Steichen's offense, he'll make a case to battle out Leonard to backup Jones.

Not only will this help solidify himself one play away from getting on the field should something happen to Jones, but it will also rise his stock across the league.

Speaking of that.

He's Auditioning for Other NFL Teams

Anthony Richardson Sr. runs off the field following a tough loss at home. — Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) leaves the field Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, after a loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Since Richardson's trade request is still active, and Indianapolis hasn't negated it, that means this game, and the rest of the preseason, could be an audition to land in a new destination.

The fact that no deal has happened in six months for a Richardson trade shows what the NFL thinks of the field general: they aren't willing to do business with Indianapolis until he shows something more.

Is there a wild chance that Indianapolis opts to keep Richardson should he show out against New England? Of course, anything is possible in the NFL.

However, the far more likely scenario is that Indianapolis hopes he plays well to recoup some capital after mortgaging their future on him with a fourth-overall selection.

If Richardson goes out there and shows poise, accuracy, and an ability to take care of the football, we could see a deal done after so many months of waiting.

If Richardson looks like he has in the past, or worse, it could lead to outcomes that the former Florida Gator wants to avoid.

Some of those include being relegated to QB3, or worse, becoming a cut candidate ahead of Indianapolis trimming the roster down to 53 names.

I think the outcome that he gets cut only happens if he looks absolutely horrendous. The unfortunate reality is, he has been that way multiple times throughout his career.

Hopefully, Richardson has a good game, but it can't be ruled out that he'll spiral out of control since he's done it before.

The Bottom Line

Anthony Richardson Sr. signs autographs at a Colts training camp practice. — Aug 11, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (5) signs an autograph for a fan after practice during training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

It could be seen as a hot take, but it's really not out of the question to call this preseason game the most important of Richardson's career.

While it's not against New England's elite competition, it's still a huge sample that Richardson needs to make tasty.

Everyone's eyes will be glued to what he does on the field tonight, and that includes any NFL teams that could be in the market to add another quarterback.

The future of the NFL's most athletic quarterback is on the line in what's considered an otherwise low-level game.

Let's see if he can dial back the mistakes, disappointment, and wild inefficiency in a game that could decide his professional football career.

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