According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Colts head coach Shane Steichen revealed that Anthony Richardson will start Indianapolis’ preseason opener Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens, while Daniel Jones will start the second preseason game versus the Green Bay Packers.
On the surface, it’s a routine quarterback update. But dig deeper, and it’s a window into how the Colts are navigating one of the most fascinating quarterback dynamics in the NFL this year, balancing their long term investment in Richardson with the immediate stability offered by Jones.
Why Richardson Goes First (and What It Means)
GettyAnthony Richardson to start Thursday, August 8th, in Baltimore against the Ravens
Richardson starting first isn’t a surprise. What is a little surprising is how quietly urgent this move is.
The reality is, the Colts need Anthony Richardson to work, and they need it now. After two seasons marred by injury setbacks, inconsistent performances, and the typical growing pains of a raw talent, the organization can no longer afford to treat his development as a long term project with an open timeline. The clock is ticking.
What Indianapolis needs from Richardson is something more difficult to teach or buy: command of the offense, consistent execution, and mental composure under pressure. The Colts need to see the third year quarterback who doesn’t just run the offense with his legs but leads it with his brain.
That’s why starting Richardson in the preseason opener against a defense like Baltimore’s is so significant. The Ravens are famously aggressive, disguise heavy, and sound, a perfect measuring stick.
If Richardson has tightened up his reads, quickened his release, or simply matured in how he handles chaos, Thursday night will show it. And if he hasn’t? That’ll be clear too.
Daniel Jones Is More Than a Backup, and That’s by Design
GettyDaniel Jones to start Saturday, August 16th, in Indianapolis against the Packers
The Colts didn’t sign Daniel Jones to be QB2 in the traditional sense. They signed him to stabilize the floor. And starting him in the second preseason game proves they’re willing to use him if needed.
Jones doesn’t have Richardson’s ceiling, but he’s started playoff games, handled New York pressure, and bounced back from adversity. He brings veteran calm to a QB room that hasn’t had it in years. And for a Colts team with playoff ambitions, that matters.
The fact that Jones isn’t just cleaning up in the second half, but instead starting a game, tells you how the Colts view him: not just as an insurance policy, but as a guy they may need to lean on at some point, and a player they want fully ready to do so.
The Colts aren’t handing the franchise to Richardson and betting their entire future on him. They’re not benching him out of fear, either. They’re giving him meaningful tests with real consequences and backing it up with a support plan that includes a 60 start veteran behind him.
For a team that’s spent the last few years in quarterback limbo, this is the clearest sign yet that the Colts have a real vision. Develop your star. Protect your season. And don’t let either goal sabotage the other. The fate of the future of the Colts franchise may rest on this one preseason game.
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