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Doyel: On best day of Colts QB competition, Anthony Richardson is better than Daniel Jones

Colts QB Battle Heats Up: Anthony Richardson vs. Daniel Jones – Who's the Future in Indy?

INDIANAPOLIS – Picture this: It's a sweltering July afternoon at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center, and the air is thick with tension thicker than the humidity. The Indianapolis Colts are deep into training camp, and all eyes are on the quarterback room. Not just any quarterback room, mind you – this one's got a plot twist straight out of a Hollywood script. Anthony Richardson, the athletic phenom with a cannon for an arm and legs like a gazelle, is squaring off against Daniel Jones, the veteran gunslinger who's seen the highs and lows of the NFL trenches. Yeah, you read that right. Daniel Jones, the guy who once led the New York Giants to a playoff win, is now donning the blue and white, challenging Richardson for the starting gig. This isn't just a competition; it's a crossroads for the franchise, a battle that could define the Colts' trajectory for years to come.

Let's rewind a bit to understand how we got here. Anthony Richardson burst onto the scene as the Colts' fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The kid from Florida was raw, sure, but his potential was off the charts. We're talking about a 6-foot-4, 244-pound specimen who could throw a football through a brick wall or outrun a cheetah on a scramble. His rookie year was a tease – flashes of brilliance interrupted by injuries that sidelined him for most of the season. Then came 2024, where he started to put it together, leading the team to a respectable 9-8 record and a wild-card berth. But questions lingered: Could he stay healthy? Could he refine his accuracy, which hovered around 60% completion rate? Enter the offseason of 2025, and the Colts' front office, led by GM Chris Ballard, decided to shake things up. They signed Daniel Jones to a two-year, incentive-laden deal after the Giants cut ties following a disappointing 2024 campaign marred by his own injury woes and inconsistent play.

Why Jones? Ballard explained it in his trademark straightforward style during a presser last month: "We believe in competition. Anthony's our guy, but iron sharpens iron. Daniel brings experience, poise under pressure, and he's got something to prove." Jones, at 28, is no spring chicken, but he's battle-tested. Remember that 2022 season where he threw for over 3,200 yards, added 700 on the ground, and dragged a middling Giants squad to the divisional round? That's the Jones the Colts are banking on. The one who can manage games, avoid turnovers, and mentor a young locker room. But let's not sugarcoat it – Jones has his detractors. Critics point to his turnover-prone stretches, the neck injury that derailed his 2023, and a Giants tenure that ended with more questions than answers. Still, in Indy's system under head coach Shane Steichen, who loves mobile quarterbacks, Jones could thrive.

Fast forward to camp, and the competition is living up to the hype. I've been out here every day, watching these two go at it, and it's electric. Richardson's arm talent is undeniable. In 7-on-7 drills, he's zipping passes into tight windows that make your jaw drop. There's this one play I'll never forget: Richardson drops back, feels the pressure, rolls right, and launches a 50-yard bomb to Michael Pittman Jr. while on the run. The ball hits Pittman in stride for a touchdown. The sideline erupts. That's the upside – the kind of play that wins championships. But then there are the inconsistencies. A sailed throw here, a misread there. Richardson's still learning the nuances, still shaking off the rust from those injury-plagued early years. He's admitted as much in interviews, saying, "I'm not perfect, but I'm hungry. This competition pushes me to be better every snap."

On the flip side, Jones is the steady hand. He's not going to wow you with athleticism like Richardson, but his decision-making is crisp. In team drills, he's dissecting defenses with quick releases and smart check-downs. I watched him connect on a series of underneath routes to Alec Pierce and Josh Downs that kept the chains moving – the kind of efficient football that wears down opponents. Jones has that veteran savvy; he knows when to take a sack instead of forcing a play, a lesson Richardson is still internalizing. And don't sleep on Jones' mobility – he's no statue. He rushed for over 400 yards last year with the Giants, even if it wasn't as explosive as Richardson's style. In a recent scrimmage, Jones led a two-minute drill that ended with a game-winning field goal setup, earning nods from Steichen and the coaching staff.

Steichen, for his part, is playing this close to the vest. "Both guys are competing at a high level," he told me after practice yesterday. "We're evaluating everything – accuracy, leadership, how they handle adversity." But reading between the lines, it's clear Richardson has the inside track. He's the homegrown talent, the one with the higher ceiling. The Colts invested heavily in him, and barring a meltdown, he's likely to start Week 1 against the Texans. That said, Jones isn't here to hold a clipboard. If Richardson stumbles – say, with turnovers or another injury – Jones could step in and run with it. This isn't like the Gardner Minshew backup role of yesteryear; this is a legitimate threat.

The locker room dynamic is fascinating, too. Richardson and Jones have been nothing but professional, sharing reps and even studying film together. Pittman, the team's top receiver, praised both: "AR's got that wow factor, but DJ's got the experience. Whoever wins, we're ready to roll." But make no mistake, there's an undercurrent of intensity. Teammates whisper about Richardson's work ethic, how he's been in the facility at dawn, poring over tape. Jones, meanwhile, is drawing on his New York grit, proving he's not washed up at 28.

From a fan perspective, this is gold. Colts Nation has been starved for quarterback stability since Andrew Luck's abrupt retirement. Peyton Manning's era feels like ancient history, and the revolving door of Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, and Matt Ryan was a nightmare. Richardson represents hope – the dual-threat dynamo who could elevate this team to Super Bowl contention, especially with a stacked running back like Jonathan Taylor and a improving defense anchored by DeForest Buckner. Jones, though, offers reliability. In a league where injuries are rampant, having a proven starter as insurance is smart business.

As camp progresses, the stakes rise. Preseason games will be telling. Will Richardson's big plays outweigh his mistakes? Can Jones recapture that 2022 magic and force Steichen's hand? I've seen enough to believe Richardson will emerge victorious, but not without a fight. This competition isn't just about who starts; it's about pushing the entire offense to new heights. The Colts finished 2024 with a top-10 scoring unit, but to challenge the Chiefs and Bengals in the AFC, they need elite quarterback play.

Look, I've covered this team through thick and thin – from the glory days to the rebuilds. This QB battle feels different. It's not desperation; it's calculated ambition. Richardson could be the next Lamar Jackson, a game-changer. Jones could be the Kirk Cousins-like stabilizer. Either way, the winner gets the keys to a playoff-caliber roster. The loser? Well, that's the NFL – one snap away from relevance.

As we head into August, keep your eyes peeled. This story is far from over. The Colts' quarterback saga is must-watch drama, and whoever claims the throne could lead Indy back to prominence. Buckle up, folks – it's going to be a wild ride.

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Read the Full The Indianapolis Star Article at:
[ https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/columnists/gregg-doyel/2025/07/28/colts-qb-competition-anthony-richardson-daniel-jones/85205823007/ ]