Daniel Jones to Start Colts' Second Preseason Game
In this story:
Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Daniel Jones will start the team's second preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.
Steichen said Sunday that Jones will get the reps in the first quarter against the Packers, while Anthony Richardson will take over in the second quarter. The Colts initially planned to have Richardson play for the majority of the first half of game one, but Richardson injured his right pinkie in the Colts' 24-16 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
That forced Jones into action earlier than expected, and the former New York Giant offered an inconsistent performance. Jones played until the end of the first half, driving the Colts to three field goal attempts. He finished 10-for-21 with 144 passing yards, and he had one passing touchdown called back by offensive pass interference.
The Colts had always planned to have Jones start the second preseason game, but because Jones already got extensive reps against Baltimore, Steichen wants more of a look at Richardson. Richardson has returned to practice and is expected to fully participate in both the Colts' joint practices with Green Bay and the second quarter of Saturday's game.
Anthony Richardson Made Costly Misreads
Neither Richardson nor Jones has separated themselves enough to gain an inside track on the Colts' starting position. Per Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, Richardson might have damaged his chances by taking a sack and getting injured on a play that favored the offense.
According to Warner and others, Richardson was looking the wrong way on the play and missed that both D. J. Giddens and Ashton Dulin were open to his right. That wouldn't have saved him from getting crushed, but it would have meant a potential positive play for Indianapolis.
Has Daniel Jones Done Enough to Pull Ahead?
Daniel Jones will get a chance to take the lead, but he's been far from outstanding in training camp. In the Colts' most recent practice, Jones looked to be the more effective passer, which doesn't necessarily say a lot.
The fact is that Richardson has been erratic with his throws in his career. Jones is safer, albeit uninspiring. But the Colts want Richardson to win the job. They brought Jones in as insurance, but they have to make a decision on Richardson this year. He's got an option for a fifth season, and the Colts have to either decide he's the guy and pick up that option, or cut bait and find a new quarterback to build around.
No Timetable On the Colts' Decision
That quarterback could be Jones, as he's a sixth-year signal caller who comes cheap. Indianapolis could use Jones as a bridge, or even give him a chance to rebuild his career. But there's no urgency when it comes to Jones, at least not compared to Richardson.
If the Colts don't give Richardson the start after training camp and he's healthy, that means they think he's done. It also might make the Colts' targets a little more valuable on draft day in PPR leagues, as Jones will give them more consistent opportunities.
Either way, Richardson remains a precarious favorite, and Jones will be looking to take his job. How Saturday goes will determine a lot for how the Colts' offense looks in 2025.
Dan Angell has covered some of the biggest sporting events in the country, including the NCAA Tournament, the Maui Invitational and the Big Ten championship. He loves looking for overlooked angles to sports and using that to find betting edges and unique takes on news around the games. Outside of writing, he enjoys traveling to different stadiums to experience the atmosphere and the restaurants of each location.