With presumed starter Daniel Jones still trying to come back from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in Week 14 last season, and, therefore, limited in organized team activities (OTAs), the Indianapolis Colts have to get QB1 reps to somebody. That someone appears to be Anthony Richardson.
At least, for now. The question many Indy fans might be asking is why? Not that Richardson hasn't started for the team before, but his tenure in Indianapolis appears to be nearing its end. He has requested a trade and has only a year left on his rookie deal. Fellow backup Riley Leonard has three.
Head coach Shane Steichen is tasked with playing those he feels give his team the best chance to win (and Steichen needs to win in 2026 or risk losing his job), and prepping those players is important. Maybe Jones can be back by Week 1, but if not, is Richardson the way to go?
Anthony Richardson is getting QB1 reps for the Indianapolis Colts in OTAs
Leonard, after all, was good in Week 18 last season when he started against a great Houston Texans defense. He was so good that some might argue he played as well as Richardson ever did when he started. Leonard also appears to be the longtime backup to Jones, not Richardson.
Perhaps something else is afoot. Anthony Richardson getting QB1 reps means that he is healthy enough to do so. His vision issue, which stemmed from a broken orbital bone he suffered in Week 6 warmups last year, apparently is clear enough to play.
This would obviously indicate to any team considering a trade for Richardson that he is available to practice and play as needed. Had the Colts held Richardson out like Jones, or had him take limited reps, potential buyers of the quarterback's services might be turned off.
Should Richardson be traded, the market likely won't be one where the Indianapolis Colts get lots back in return. A fifth-round pick might be the team's best option. At least the quarterback is practicing. That is more than he could do for most of last season.
Still, Indy fans have a right to question how long Anthony Richardson will keep getting QB1 reps. He wants to be traded and won't be with the team next offseason, most likely, and Riley Leonard has shown as much promise as Richardson ever has. Shane Steichen might need to rethink his approach just in case Daniel Jones isn't ready in Week 1.
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