The Indianapolis Colts are likely to keep three quarterbacks on their roster in 2026, just as they tried to do in 2025 (it didn't help that Anthony Richardson missed much of the season after breaking an orbital bone ahead of Week 6). The question is which three quarterbacks.
Fans can assume that Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard will be two of those QBs, but a slightly less safe pick would be Richardson. The issue is that he hasn't rescinded his request to be traded, and that could still happen. If it does, chances are that happens three days after training camp begins, as his new team would only owe him $1.1 million this coming season.
That would open the door for former Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Easton Stick, whom the Colts signed in June, to be on the roster. Not that Stick has proven he can be a reliable quarterback in the NFL, but he does have one advantage that other QBs of his ilk don't.
Easton Stick might have a path to being QB3 for the Indianapolis Colts in 2026
When the Chargers chose Stick out of North Dakota State in the fifth round of 2019, current Colts head coach Shane Steichen was still the offensive coordinator in Los Angeles. Steichen coached Stick for two seasons before Steichen headed to the Philadelphia Eagles as the OC. Stick stayed in LA through 2024 and even saw some playing time at the end of 2023.
He started four games in place of injured QB1 Justin Herbert, but the Chargers didn't win any of the games. Stick wasn't terrible, as he threw three touchdowns and just one interception, but he certainly wasn't overly efficient, either.
That means that, should Easton Stick be on the Indianapolis Colts' 53-man roster ahead of 2026, fans should hope he doesn't play. Jones will be the starter and Leonard the backup. Stick would only appear if Indy was blowing another team out or something dreadful had happened with Jones and Leonard.
Meanwhile, Richardson would have been traded elsewhere. He isn't likely to be released, as the team would save nothing against the cap if they waived the quarterback, and he could have trade value into the season if other teams suffer an injury at the position. If Richardson is dealt before the season, Stick would have the inside track to replace him.
He might not have shown he could ever be a long-term starter when he was with the Los Angeles Chargers, but Stick's previous connection with Shane Steichen should not be easily dismissed. The Colts head coach would have been part of the vetting process when Los Angeles chose the quarterback in 2019, so Steichen should know how best to use Stick, if needed.
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