The Indianapolis Colts made a move that risks the coaching staff losing the locker room entering the 2025 season. The team named free agent acquisition Daniel Jones as the starting quarterback over Anthony Richardson. Richardson is entering his third year with the team.
Veterans seem to like Richardson, and they know him well. Maybe the same is true for Jones, too. After all, he was named as one of the team captains for Week 1, but he almost had to be. He is QB1. Having QB2 be a captain would have been odd.
But we can't kid ourselves into thinking Danny Dimes is going to be good and not having anyone discussing whether Richardson should replace him at any point in the season. Jones has spent six years in the NFL, and he hasn't been great in any of them.
Colts' Daniel Jones begins the season on the hot seat without having played a down for Indy
As much as Richardson might be a first-round bust for Indy, Jones was the same for the New York Giants. Colts fans might be about to live a Giants fan's experience with Jones. That wouldn't be a good thing.
In a recent article discussing the quarterbacks on the hottest seat entering the season, NFL Spin Zone's Lou Scataglia named Jones. The reason is logical and simple. Daniel Jones hasn't proven he is worthy of being a starting quarterback in the league.
Scataglia wrote, "Anthony Richardson won the Colts' starting QB job depending on who you ask, but Daniel Jones will begin the year as the starting QB, and it's not like Jones has a long history of being an effective QB, but you do have to wonder if the Colts will actually turn to Richardson when Jones struggles?"
The truth is that Richardson didn't win the QB1 job, or he would have, in fact, been the starter in Week 1, but Scataglia's point is well taken with the rest of it. Jones has an even bigger history of failing than Richardson, and the battle for starting quarterback appeared to be even, though head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard obviously liked Jones more.
Of course, one important fact that cannot be overlooked is Anthony Richardson's injury history. The Indianapolis Colts could have named Daniel Jones as the starter simply because Indy might assume Richardson will get hurt too easily again. If nothing else, at least Jones stays healthy.