Anthony Richardson Secures Backup QB Role with Colts After Preseason Competition

The first three years of Anthony Richardson's NFL career did not go according to plan. He has another chance to prove himself with the Indianapolis Colts in 2026, but it will come as the No. 2 quarterback on the depth chart rather than the starter. Coach Shane Steichen announced on Thursday that Richardson won the battle with Riley Leonard for the backup job behind Daniel Jones.

Both Richardson and Leonard made strong impressions on the coaching staff in training camp, so it was the difference in preseason production that separated the former from the latter, according to Steichen.

Richardson went 21-for-33 for 249 yards through the air in three preseason games while Leonard went 20-for-42 for 199 yards. Neither threw a touchdown while Richardson tossed one interception and Leonard accounted for two. While both offer plus running ability, only Richardson made a meaningful impact in that regard during the exhibition contests. His highlight came in the opener when he took six carries for 53 yards and a score.

To do all of that after a string of three consecutive season-ending injuries was the bounce back the Colts were looking for from their backup.

"He's grown a ton just as an individual," Steichen said. "A young player in this league, learning, going through adversity, going through uncontrollable things, injuries that he's had to battle through. Like we've said all along, he's a very talented player. He stuck with it and kept grinding."

Of course, the original goal was for Richardson to become the Colts' franchise quarterback. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft holds just 15 career starts and has never been anything more than a subpar passer, which relegates him to the backup job in the final year of his rookie contract.

Colts, Anthony Richardson move forward after trade request

When it became clear that the Colts wanted to hitch their wagons to Jones instead of Richardson, the team granted the former Florida Gator permission to seek a trade. There was never any guarantee that Indianapolis would receive anything of value in return for a quarterback whose stock has fallen immensely since 2023, though, and no deal emerged. Instead, they will give him another chance to carve out a future as a backup.

Richardson shifted his focus to making the most of however much time he has left in Indianapolis, even if that means accepting a No. 2 role. After beating Leonard in the competition for the backup job, he downplayed the trade request.

"I'm here," Richardson said on Thursday. "I'm not really thinking about that. I haven't talked to my agent about that in a minute, honestly. Since Day 1 of camp, I've been trying to prepare myself to be the backup for Daniel. I got granted that today, so that's my main focus."

What's next for Anthony Richardson?

The best-case outcome for Richardson is for him to find his way into the starting lineup, lead the offense to success and earn himself a look either in Indianapolis or elsewhere in 2027 as a starter. Getting onto the field is the most straightforward part of that equation, as Jones is coming off a torn Achilles, and Richardson will always be one snap away from being inserted into action. Playing at a high enough level to reassert himself as an NFL-caliber starter, on the other hand, is more far-fetched.

A more realistic scenario is for Richardson to receive modest playing time in blowouts or in any short-term absences Jones may experience. If the former first-rounder proves himself as a quality backup, Indianapolis could opt to bring him back next year on a short-term contract. He could also sign a one-year deal with another team to continue his career as a backup.

In the event that Richardson struggles in however much playing time he sees, he could struggle to find work in 2027. His elite athleticism will always make him intriguing to teams as a backup or gadget-play quarterback, but without improvement as a passer, there is a real chance Richardson becomes a third-stringer at his next stop or fails to make the roster altogether.