RADIO
Colts Backup Quarterback Battle Remains Unsettled
Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that there is no timetable on the team's decision on who to name as its backup quarterback behind QB1 Daniel Jones, per Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. The competition is ongoing between former first-round pick Anthony Richardson Sr. and 2025 sixth-rounder Riley Leonard. Richardson Sr. has battled injury issues and inconsistency in his career to this point. In his last extended run of action in 2024, he completed 47.7% of his pass attempts for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions across 11 starts. However, the 24-year-old has rushed for 634 yards and 10 touchdowns across 17 career NFL games and brings high-end dual-threat fantasy upside if he ever gets another chance as a starter. Leonard started one game as a rookie in 2025, completing 21 of 34 pass attempts for 270 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in Week 18 against the Houston Texans. While not as electric a rusher as Richardson Sr., Leonard is also a capable runner. With Jones making his way back from an Achilles injury, fantasy managers may want to keep an eye on the Colts QB2 job as the regular season draws closer.
Source: Pro Football Talk - Charean Williams
Source: Pro Football Talk - Charean Williams
Colts Hint at Keeping Anthony Richardson Sr.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. appears increasingly likely to remain with the team for the 2026 season, despite the fact that he recently requested a trade. According to Stephen Holder of ESPN.com, Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds hinted that the former first-round pick will remain in Indianapolis to provide the team with depth. "We want to have three [quarterbacks] that can play," Dodds said. "So, if [ Richardson] is one of them, he's going to be here. ... Look at last year. You never know." Dodds, of course, was referencing the injury to Daniel Jones (Achilles) last season that required the Colts to play Philip Rivers and Riley Leonard. After Jones went down, the Colts dropped from 8-4 to 8-9. They lost five in a row, falling out of a playoff spot. Richardson has not lived up to expectations since entering the league, but he's arguably still capable of playing mediocre football to keep the Colts' playoff hopes alive in the event that Jones suffers another significant injury in 2026.
Source: Stephen Holder
Source: Stephen Holder
Riley Leonard Stumbles in Preseason Opener
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard started the second half of the Colts' preseason opener against the New England Patriots and completed 10 of 21 passes for 89 yards. Leonard also managed to eke out 12 yards on the ground from two rushing attempts. The sophomore quarterback out of Notre Dame threw one interception early in the third quarter while under pressure from a collapsing pocket, but eventually found his rhythm. Leonard seems to be playing for the third position on the Colts' quarterback depth chart behind Anthony Richardson Sr. and ahead of Easton Stick. He has another chance next week against the Atlanta Falcons to demonstrate progress and improve his efficiency in the air.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Anthony Richardson Sr. The Early Favorite for Backup Spot?
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. had moderate success in the air and on the ground during Thursday's preseason opener 13-13 tie to the New England Patriots. As the Colts' starter with Daniel Jones (Achilles) on the mend, Richardson Sr. completed 11 of his 14 attempts for 145 yards. He also reminded fans of his dual-threat abilities and tallied 53 yards on the ground off his six carries, scoring one rushing touchdown from the goal line. However, in Richardson Sr.'s first and only half of play, he threw one interception and lost a fumble. The Colts' 2023 first-round pick will have another opportunity next week against the Atlanta Falcons to improve his ball security and try to earn the backup role behind veteran quarterback Daniel Jones.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Anthony Richardson Sr. to Start Preseason Opener
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. will start Thursday's preseason opener against the New England Patriots, according to Joel A. Erickson. Richardson will play the entire first half before Riley Leonard takes over for the second. The Colts will flip that setup against Atlanta on Aug. 22, with Leonard starting the first half and Richardson finishing the game. Daniel Jones will not play in either contest, leaving plenty of snaps for Indianapolis to evaluate its backup competition. Richardson and Leonard have split second- and third-team work throughout camp, and neither has separated yet. Those reps are especially useful for Richardson after he barely saw the field in 2025. He appeared in two games before suffering a fractured orbital bone during pregame warmups in Week 6 and spending the rest of the season on injured reserve. Jones remains firmly established as the starter, so Richardson and Leonard are fighting for the No. 2 job rather than a path to immediate fantasy value.
Source: Joel A. Erickson
Source: Joel A. Erickson
Daniel Jones Won't Play During the Preseason
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) will not play during the preseason, according to Jonathan Jones. Head coach Shane Steichen announced the decision Tuesday as Jones continues his return from the torn Achilles that ended his 2025 season in Week 14. The good news is that Jones has been a full participant in training camp, so there is nothing here suggesting he has suffered a setback. He started 13 games last season and completed 68% of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions, adding 164 yards and five more scores on the ground. The Colts also have no quarterback decision to make with Jones, who enters the season as their unquestioned starter. Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson Sr. are instead competing for the backup job and should get plenty of preseason work. Jones remains RotoBaller's QB24, and sitting out exhibition games should not change much for fantasy managers as long as he continues practicing without limitations.
Source: Jonathan Jones
Source: Jonathan Jones
Daniel Jones Not Expected to Play in Preseason
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) is not expected to play in the preseason, per The Athletic's James Boyd. According to Boyd, Jones will participate only in Tuesday's joint practice with the New England Patriots and will sit out Thursday's game. The former sixth-overall pick has looked sharp in practice and earned praise from his teammates. Veteran tight end Mo Alie-Cox said, "He looks like he never got hurt," while guard Quenton Nelson said, "He's been incredible. He's back like he's never left." In his first season with the Colts in 2025, Jones recorded 3,101 yards and 19 touchdowns, with eight interceptions, and added 164 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He was the QB7 before the injury, averaging 19.4 fantasy points per game. Jones is ranked QB24 in RotoBaller's positional rankings, offering upside at a reasonable price.
Source: James Boyd - The Athletic
Source: James Boyd - The Athletic
Anthony Richardson Sr. Reportedly Falls to Third String
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. has reportedly fallen behind Riley Leonard in the competition for the backup job, according to Evan Sidery. Sidery reports that Richardson has been moved to third string behind starter Daniel Jones and Leonard after an uneven start to training camp. The former No. 4 overall pick has flashed his trademark arm strength, but ball security continues to be an issue, including several mishandled snaps and an interception during recent practices. Richardson's trade request also remains in place after Indianapolis was unable to find a deal during the offseason. He has made only 15 starts through three NFL seasons, completing 50.6% of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. If Leonard continues to pull ahead in the QB2 competition, a trade may offer Richardson his best chance to find another opportunity and rebuild his fantasy value.
Source: Evan Sidery
Source: Evan Sidery
Anthony Richardson Sr. Having a "Roller Coaster" Training Camp
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. has been competing with second-year player Riley Leonard for the primary backup spot behind Daniel Jones, and according to Jake Arthur of Colts Roundtable, he has been "riding a roller coaster" throughout training camp. With his physical gifts rarely in question, the former fourth overall pick has made some of the most impressive throws of camp, but he's also struggled with some of the fundamentals that should not be slowing him down in his fourth professional season, bobbling or dropping several shotgun snaps. Arthur credits him with a 76.2% completion rate in 11-on-11 sessions, though it's important to note that most of his action has come against the second and third-team defenses with Jones showing little ill effect from his season-ending Achilles injury and handling the majority of the work with the ones. Richardson has fallen to QB35 in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, but with his natural abilities translating so strongly to fantasy, he remains a frustrating hold who can still put up points in bunches whenever he finds the field.
Source: Jake Arthur
Source: Jake Arthur
Daniel Jones Looks "Completely Fine Physically"
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones tore his Achilles tendon less than eight months ago, but he has been a full participant since Day 1 of training camp, and Jake Arthur of Colts Roundtable notes that he "looks completely fine physically." The eighth-year veteran has not hesitated to scramble when needed, and even with top receiver Alec Pierce on the PUP list while recovering from offseason ankle surgery, Arthur credits Jones with over a 70% completion rate in 11-on-11 sessions. Before his season-ending injury in Week 14, Jones was the fantasy QB7, but with concerns of his recovery pushing his current ADP all the way down to QB24, he could prove to be one of the biggest steals of 2026 drafts, particularly in superflex formats.
Source: Jake Arthur
Source: Jake Arthur
Daniel Jones Looks "Unimpeded" as he Continues his Rehab
ESPN's Ben Solak writes that he saw what looked like an "unimpeded" Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) at training camp. Solak added that it doesn't look like Jones is only 7 1/3 months removed from Achilles surgery. If anything, Jones is "just a little stiff and uncertain when he's moving." Still, Solak thinks Jones "looks good," but he's not 100% on his Achilles just yet, so it remains to be seen how close he'll be to 100% by Week 1 of the 2026 regular season in September. The 29-year-old is in a "good place," though, and head coach Shane Steichen isn't modulating how he distributes reps or calls plays in training camp to account for Jones' recovery. It looks like the former sixth overall pick by the Giants in 2019 from Duke will be ready for Week 1, which would be great news for the Colts' offense. Jones was on his way to a career-best season in 2025 in his first year in Indy, but coming off a torn Achilles tendon and without receiver Michael Pittman Jr., there are plenty of reasons for fantasy managers to be skeptical of a repeat. Jones should be targeted as a low-end QB2 in superflex leagues with limited upside.
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Solak
Source: ESPN.com - Ben Solak
Anthony Richardson Sr. Competing for QB2 Job
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. is reportedly in competition for the backup role ahead of the 2026 season. Daniel Jones is the clear starter in Indy, but the backup gig is still up for grabs. JJ Stankevitz is reporting that Richardson and Riley Leonard are "neck and neck" for the QB2 job. The team plans to continue to rotate the two quarterbacks between the second and third-team offense throughout camp. Richardson hasn't actually played meaningful football since the 2024 season. Leonard threw for 415 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in five games last season. Whoever wins the backup job could have some stash value with Jones coming back from an Achilles injury.
Source: colts.com
Source: colts.com
Daniel Jones Takes All First-Team Reps on Day 1 of Colts Training Camp
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) took all of the first-team reps during the team's first practice on Wednesday, according to Kevin Bowen of 93.5 The Fan. Jones is continuing to recover from a ruptured Achilles he suffered in Week 14 last season. The Colts were producing as one of the league's best offenses with an 8-4 record before Jones went down with a season-ending injury. The team will look to get back on track as GM Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen enter a pivotal year of their tenure with the Colts. There are a lot of moving pieces in Indianapolis while Jones continues to get back to full health and regain chemistry with his pass-catchers. It could take time for the offense to get back to where it was a year ago.
Source: Kevin Bowen
Source: Kevin Bowen
Anthony Richardson Sr.'s Trade Request is Still in Place
FOX 59's Mike Chappell reports that Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr.'s trade request is "still in place." However, the Colts expect Richardson to remain with the team in 2026, with general manager Chris Ballard saying that the team isn't "going to give him away." The 24-year-old signal-caller has been a massive bust since the Colts took him fourth overall in 2023 out of the University of Florida. Injuries and lack of accuracy as a passer have done him in, and it's now clear that Daniel Jones (Achilles) is the Colts' clear starter under center going forward. In 17 games (15 starts) in his three years in the NFL, Richardson has completed just 50.6% of his pass attempts for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. A-Rich's elite rushing abilities always gave him potential for QB1 fantasy upside, but his inability to stay healthy has derailed his career early on. For fantasy football purposes, a trade and a change of scenery might give Richardson the best chance of reviving his career. He played in just two games in 2025 and missed most of the year with a fractured orbital bone due to a freak accident while stretching.
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Source: FOX 59 - Mike Chappell
Daniel Jones Feels Good, Ready to Go for Training Camp
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (Achilles) made an appearance in the booth of the NFL Flag Championships held over the weekend in Indiana, and when asked how his body feels, he told Kyle Brandt, "I feel good, really good. I'm excited to get going." Colts veterans report for training camp on Monday with the first practice scheduled for Wednesday, and as Jones continues to recover from the torn Achilles that ended his first year with the team, he could soon find himself participating in 11-on-11 action. Jones saw his involvement ramped up throughout OTAs and minicamp, eventually taking part in 7-on-7 drills, and it sounds as if he won't be limited for long, if at all, to begin training camp. Jones is RotoBaller's QB24 and represents tremendous potential value after playing as the QB7 through the first 13 weeks of 2025 despite adding a career-low 13.3 rushing yards per game.
Source: NFL on ESPN
Source: NFL on ESPN
