Wild card in Anthony Richardson decision

[Colts And Orioles]

Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

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For all of his flaws, Anthony Richardson is very talented and athletic, and gives the team the proverbial "puncher's chance" to win any close game with a late, 4th quarter rally ...... how much more can one ask from a 3rd-string quarterback ??? In fact, that sounds like arguably the best 3rd-string quarterback in the league. And yes, we really need 3 quarterbacks in this very rough sport of tackle football, as last year's team having 44 year-old Philip Rivers desperately trying to salvage the season exhibited.

Leave well-enough alone, and don't make an issue where there isn't one by cutting him. Richardson may want to be traded, but one can't always get what they want.

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Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

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The Colts Says That QB Anthony Richardson Is ‘Here to Compete’ Amid Trade Request

(By James Boyd)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...ny-richardson/

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Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

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Richardson appears to be staying put, just like I hoped that he would ...... in my rat's ass of an opinion, the 2025 Colts needing to resort to bringing back Uncle Phil exhibited that you can't have too much depth at the QB position in the NFL.



Anthony Richardson Finds No Trade Market as Colts QB Set to Stay Put

(By J. Canfora)

https://www.sportsboom.us/nfl/exclus...ity-with-colts

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The Colts’ Looming Position Battles: Will Riley Leonard or Anthony Richardson Be the Backup QB ???

(By James Boyd)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...ny-richardson/



The Indianapolis Colts begin OTA's next week, so now is a good time to dive into some of the team’s looming position battles. The Colts made several roster changes this offseason, with six starters from last year finding new homes elsewhere, thus opening the door for others to fill the void.

Here are my top five position battles to keep an eye on.



Back-Up Quarterback


Daniel Jones, who is rehabbing from a torn right Achilles tendon he suffered in December, was solidified as the Colts’ unquestioned QB1 when he signed a two-year, $88 Million contract with the team in March. Colts coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard have noted Jones’ recovery is going well. Still, they both stopped short of fully committing to Jones’ being available for the opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 13th.

If Jones isn’t ready, the Colts will turn to Riley Leonard or Anthony Richardson, the latter of whom has requested a trade. Since last season ended, the Colts have praised Leonard, a 2025 6th-round pick, for his progress and indicated he’s on track to be Jones’ backup. But that was before Richardson, who requested a trade in February, rejoined the team for spring practice earlier this month.

The Colts haven’t said much about what Richardson’s role will be if he spends the 2026 season in Indy, but if he isn’t traded, it’s worth discussing whether Richardson or Leonard gives the Colts the best chance to win if Jones is sidelined. Richardson, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, has thrown 11 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions in the NFL. He’s also rushed for 10 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Leonard threw two TD passes and three picks during his rookie season. He also had two rushing TD's.

OTA's could provide a tangible update on Jones, whom the Colts did not rule out of participating. They could also give us a glimpse of how the team plans to divide the reps between Leonard and Richardson.


Other Defensive End


Laiatu Latu is the only proven starting defensive end on the Colts’ roster. The 2024 first-round pick notched 8.5 sacks and 3 INT's last season. He’ll need to record, at minimum, double-digit sacks in 2026 to justify how high he was selected.

Indy’s other starting defensive end from last year, Kwity Paye, joined the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Ballard said the Colts tried to sign four-time Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson, who played under Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo in Cincinnati, but they swung and missed. Hendrickson signed with the Ravens, so the Colts will face him in Week 1 in Indianapolis.

The Colts appear content to use a defensive-end-by-committee approach opposite Latu. Still, the other starting job is likely to be claimed by veteran free-agent signee Arden Key or 2025 second-round pick Jaylahn Tuimoloau. Key has started 46 games through his first eight NFL seasons and has 30 1/2 sacks. He is the most accomplished defensive end the Colts added this offseason. Tuimoloau, on the other hand, logged zero starts and zero sacks as a rookie, though Anarumo and company have hinted he could take a big leap in Year 2.


3rd Wide Receiver


The Colts traded veteran Michael Pittman Jr., who led the team in receptions in four of the last five years, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March. His absence will push newly paid Alec Pierce, who signed a four-year, $114 Million deal with the Colts shortly before Pittman’s departure, up the depth chart. Josh Downs will also see an increased role.

The competition for the third starting receiver spot could go in a few directions. Ashton Dulin offers the most familiarity, as he’s entering his fourth season in Steichen’s offense, but he also plays a huge role on special teams as one of the best gunners in the NFL. Free-agent signee Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is another veteran option. He had a down season with the Miami Dolphins last year, totaling just 11 catches for 89 yards, but he caught nine touchdowns with the Tennessee Titans in 2024 and has 19 receiving TDs in his career.

The Colts could also turn to rookie Deion Burks. The seventh-round pick out of Oklahoma has blazing speed, evidenced by his 4.30-second 40-yard dash. Burks, who stands 5 feet 10 and weighs 180 pounds, also displayed impressive run-after-the-catch ability in college thanks to his deceptively strong frame.


Kicker


Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason believes his team has two starting kickers on its roster: Spencer Shrader and Blake Grupe. Last year, Shrader was emerging as one of the best kickers in the NFL, drilling 13 of his 14 FG attempts and all 14 of his XP's before he suffered a season-ending right knee injury against the Raiders.

The Colts first pivoted to Michael Badgley, who previously played for the team, but cut him after he missed three extra points. Indy then signed Grupe, who had been cut by the New Orleans Saints after missing eight field goal attempts in 11 games. The diminutive kicker, who is 5' 7" and 157 pounds, redeemed himself in Indianapolis by making all 11 of his FG attempts and all 10 of his XP's.

Grupe could have signed elsewhere this offseason, but he decided to return to Indianapolis on a one-year deal to compete with Shrader for the starting job. Whoever loses, Mason said, should have plenty of suitors.


Back-Up Running Back


Jonathan Taylor is coming off his third Pro Bowl campaign and fourth 1,000-yard rushing season. The Colts star played a career-high 82 percent of the team’s offensive snaps last year, so the backup running back role was hardly mentioned. But there were some changes this offseason, with last year’s reserves, Ameer Abdullah and Tyler Goodson, joining the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons in free agency.

Unless the Colts sign a veteran in free agency, they’ll rely on 2025 fifth-round pick DJ Giddens or 2026 seventh-round pick Seth McGowan to serve as Taylor’s backup. Giddens, a former Kansas State star, totaled just 26 carries for 96 yards as a rookie. McGowan, meanwhile, recorded 165 carries for 725 yards and 12 touchdowns at Kentucky last season.

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