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Four seasons have passed since the Indianapolis Colts last made it to the playoffs in the NFL. However, since then, the Colts have missed the postseason due to several reasons, including roster depth, but it’s the quarterback position, the most important one on the field, that is hampering them the most.
Currently, the Colts have two quarterbacks battling it out for the starting role in Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones. While Richardson was drafted with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and was seen as the face of the franchise, he has yet to deliver as expected.
Jones, meanwhile, started his career with the New York Giants as the 6th overall pick in 2019, but has struggled to impress in the league. As this battle continues in the offseason with training camp approaching, rumors around the league suggest that one of them has a clear edge over the other.
Daniel Jones Rumored To Be in the Driver’s Seat As Colts Starter for 2025
According to ‘The Athletic’, Daniel Jones has taken a significant lead in the QB battle against Richardson, and looks good to be the week 1 starter heading into the new season. Jones was brought in by the Colts this offseason on a one-year deal to provide stiff competition for Richardson, who hasn’t panned out as per their expectations.
The 2023 first-round pick started his rookie season with the intent of lifting Indianapolis to the top of the AFC South, but suffered an AC joint sprain in week 5, leading him to miss the rest of the season. Despite making a comeback as the starter in 2024, Richardson failed to impress.
There were always question marks regarding his rehab from the shoulder injury suffered in 2023, and that could have been a big reason for his underperforming season last year. But, as the 23-year-old entered this offseason with the aim of outplaying Jones for the starting role, he is said to have reaggravated his shoulder injury on May 29, which is again a sign of concern.
That has opened the door wide open for Jones, who is looking to resurrect his career following a fallout with the Giants. In his 10 games with the Giants last season, Jones could manage only a 2-8 record with 2,070 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.
Although these are not great numbers by any means, Richardson’s injury woes have allowed Jones to build chemistry with his new receivers, and it places him in a good position to take control of the starting role in Indy.
Richardson Downplays Latest Injury
As mentioned earlier, Richardson aggravated his surgically repaired shoulder, but the former Florida Gator has dismissed it as nothing serious. Richardson was due to visit renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache for a second opinion on surgery on his shoulder, and according to reports, surgery has been ruled out. Richardson himself told Zach Goodall of 24/7 Sports on Monday that he feels good and expects to be back for training camp.
“I’m all good. Not really even a bump in the road. I feel like I tripped, I fell. Just got back up and hit the ground running again.”
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What the Colts end up deciding is anyone’s guess at the moment. The new NFL season starts in September, and there is still plenty of time with training camp and preseason to assess everything. However, Jones has the current advantage; that much is for sure. The question is whether Richardson can make a comeback in training camp and stake his claim before the start of the season.