Indianapolis Colts fans all want the same thing: One of the top two quarterbacks listed at the top of the depth chart, Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, needs to work out brilliantly in 2025. Some favor Richardson, and some favor Jones, but all want one of them to do well.
So far in their careers, neither has had sustained success. Richardson went from an, at times, promising yet limited, rookie season to an atrocious second year where he showed he could be highly inaccurate and badly indecisive.
Jones spent six seasons with the New York Giants, proving he could be decent for stretches, but also giving fuel to the argument that he was overdrafted and should be a backup at other times. While never great, he sometimes was efficient and avoided turnovers. Other times, he spent stretches of games failing to lead the offense to many points.
NFL analyst portends doom for the Indianapolis Colts quarterback position in 2025
For this reason, the two Colts quarterbacks could spend the year rotating with one another during bouts of inconsistency and failure. It only takes one of the quarterbacks to play well over a good length of time to make the world right again, however.
Alex Kay of Bleacher Report doesn't see that last part happening, though. In an article about quarterbacks who could lose their starting jobs during the season, Kay doesn't list Richardson or Jones, but both.
Kay says, "Regardless of which player ends up starting...it's unlikely they will be able to keep that role too long. Expect head coach Shane Steichen to give the backup a chance once the starter inevitably hits a rough patch during what will likely be a painful season in Indy."
Ouch.
And by "starter" and "backup," Kay clearly means whoever happens to be the starter for a game or three before they play poorly and are replaced. This could be a rinse and repeat throughout the season with Richardson playing two games, Jones playing three, Richardson starting another three, and so on.
Of course, should Steichen choose to go that route, it would likely mark the end of his time with the Colts. It is better to simply stick with one quarterback if there is not much difference between QB1 and QB2. Cohesion and rapport matter. If Jones beats out Richardson, so be it, but hedging on the decision multiple times will spell doom.
The Indianapolis Colts have a very good offensive line, and there is quite a bit of talent at the skill positions, too. If the offense fails, it will be because of the quarterback play. Unfortunately, that might turn out to be the case, no matter if the QB is Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones.