The Indianapolis Colts could look very different in the 2027 season should things not work out well in 2026. The team needs to make the playoffs, one would assume, or the head coach and/or general manager could be let go. That could all be predicated on what happens in training camp.
Moreover, the biggest question is what choice head coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard will make at quarterback. A potential battle for QB1 duties in the first few weeks of the season could play out over the summer.
What the team and fans can't yet be sure of is whether Daniel Jones will actually be ready in Week 1. He said he is aiming to be, but that would be an extremely quick return from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered in Week 14 last season. The positive part is that he is already doing some limited drills in organized team activities (OTAs).
Summer battle between Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard could decide the Indianapolis Colts' 2026 fate
When Jones isn't playing quarterback in practice, Anthony Richardson has more often than not been running with the first team, while Riley Leonard is seeing fewer of those snaps. The question fans might be asking is why?
Richardson has asked to be traded, has one year left on his contract, and hasn't been particularly good when he's been the starter for the Colts previously. He's offered no proof that he should have a huge advantage over Leonard.
Leonard has three years left on his rookie deal, so he will presumptively be in Indianapolis for far longer than Richardson, and was relatively very good in his one start for the Colts last season. He took on the defensive starters, at least in the first half, of a very good Houston Texans team in Week 18, and the quarterback showed off a strong arm and good running ability.
He also appeared to understand what was needed to perform effectively in Steichen's offense. He was a sixth-round draft choice in 2025, running the scheme more smoothly than 2023 first-round choice Richardson ever could. Why wouldn't Indy give Leonard more QB1 reps in OTAs this year?
The answer could be something quite dire. Maybe the Indianapolis Colts are simply trying to show potential suitors for Anthony Richardson that if they trade for him, the team would be getting a healthy quarterback.
Or Indy might simply be making another bad decision at the most important position in football. Ballard hasn't drafted well at the spot, and only Daniel Jones has run Steichen's scheme well, and even then, just for a half-season. Potentially going with Richardson in Week 1 over Leonard, if Jones isn't ready, would be a brutal mistake.
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