The tale of two backups is not a story that appears to have any serious forward movement after two preseason games. The Indianapolis Colts haven't looked great in either game, and neither have Riley Leonard nor Anthony Richardson, who are battling for positioning.
Richardson has shown glimpses of good quarterback play, but not nearly enough to A) win the job as Daniel Jones's backup and B) give the Colts a reason to believe once again in the guy they drafted No. 4 overall in 2023. Richardson is fighting for his Colts' life, even though the team has confirmed he will remain for the season.
His extended future with the Colts is another story, but so far, it's not looking good. Richardson may be much better off being let go or traded, and given an opportunity elsewhere. That said, the Colts are hanging on for now, but what Richardson said recently subtly hints at his belief about whether the Colts actually want him or not. Did he question the franchise that drafted him?
Anthony Richardson Sr. doesn't sound sure if the Indianapolis Colts want him around
Unless the reporting has gone unreported, Richardson's trade request is still in play, meaning the Colts can trade him whenever they want. It doesn't appear that they're ready to pull the trigger yet, which means Richardson must keep on fighting.
Richardson was back at it again on Saturday when the Colts hosted the Atlanta Falcons for their second preseason tilt. As far as the scoreboard is concerned, last weekend's 13-13 tie with the New England Patriots now looks far kinder than their 34-6 romping by the Falcons. Neither game was good, and this preseason hasn't looked good either.
Richardson was mediocre against New England, but had a few good plays. Unfortunately, he took a step back against the Falcons, completing just three out of nine passes for 24 yards and giving up two sacks. While Riley Leonard wasn't great either, he came out on top in this game, while Richardson sits below.
After the game, Richardson was asked about his current situation with the Colts, and he didn't sound overly confident, even possibly pointing the finger at the Colts with a few of his words. Whether he was throwing some subtle shade or not, the fans can decide.
“Just looking forward to help the team," Richardson said. "If they truly believe that I still have a chance to be on this squad, then I’d love that. I just want to be able to contribute, put my best foot forward, and help the team win."
It sounds like Richardson isn't convinced of the Colts' confidence in him for the future. It could be nothing, but if it is something, Richardson's line, "if they truly believe I still have a chance," could come off as him questioning their commitment. Richardson's comments were a response to being asked about Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodd's comments via The Athletic earlier in the week.
Dodd said about Richardson, "We want to have three (QBs) that can play. So, if he’s one of them, he’s gonna be here.” Dodds was responding to a question about Richardson's trade request and his future on the team.
The Colts may keep saying they're not ready to trade Richardson yet, but things simply aren't sitting right at the moment. Richardson is far away from being the Colts' starter again, even if it is in the realm of possibility. If the trade request is indeed still on the table, the Colts need to decide sooner rather than later.
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