Daniel Jones was in a training camp battle with Anthony Richardson to see who would become the starting quarterback of the team for the Indianapolis Colts in the 2025 NFL season.
Jones, who signed with the team on a one-year contract, won the starting role and appears to be the long-term option for Indy. Richardson’s time to be the starter has come to an end, and he could likely serve the rest of his rookie contract as a backup.
In Jones’ first eight games for Indy, he recorded 2,062 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. In Richardson’s tenure, the former fourth overall pick logged 2,400 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Richardson is still just 23 years old and will have more opportunities to play in the NFL; he will need a change of scenery to help achieve it.
Trading Anthony Richardson To The NFC North
GettyIndianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson.
Multiple teams need a quarterback, either as a full-time option or while waiting for the starter to return from injury.
One of those teams is the Minnesota Vikings, who have their second injured quarterback this season, with Carson Wentz suffering a season-ending shoulder surgery.
ESPN’s Ben Solak believes the Vikings should trade for Anthony Richardson to have a somewhat promising quarterback to back up JJ McCarthy.
“With Carson Wentz now on season-ending injured reserve, the QB2 job is once again open for grabs in Minnesota — and with it comes a serious opportunity to start,” Solak wrote. “Who will they target?… What about Richardson, the fourth overall pick from 2023 who never panned out for the Colts?
“He brings a similar availability concern to that of McCarthy, and the O’Connell offense — which has almost exclusively featured pocket passers — would need to be catered to his skill set… I don’t think Richardson would walk in and immediately start (the Flacco, as we call it). But if McCarthy continues to struggle getting his ankle back to health, then Richardson would get a crack at the starting gig after a week or two of learning the offense.”
The Vikings left Wentz in the game despite his injury, rather than allowing backup quarterback Max Brosmer to get an opportunity, showing that they don’t have confidence in the backup.
By bringing in a former first-round pick who has a few seasons under his belt, it could provide some confidence in the Vikings’ coaching staff.
McCarthy has thrown for 301 passing yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in the two games he has played in his career so far. While Richardson’s resume isn’t far higher, he could still provide some threat for the starting job.
Anthony Richardson Could Revive His Career
Courtesy of VikingsVikings head coach Kevin O’Connell
Coaching can do wonders for a player.
It is evident how Daniel Jones has been playing under Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen. The former New York Giant (and Viking) is having the best season of his career so far under the third-year head coach.
Who is to say the same thing won’t happen for Anthony Richardson if he makes his way to Minnesota? Richardson could not have been a good fit for the Colts’ offensive scheme, and that could explain why Jones is thriving under it.
Quarterback Sam Darnold stepped in to be the starter for Minnesota after JJ McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus that forced him out of his rookie season.
What did Darnold do during that time? He had the best season of his career by throwing for over 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns, which earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl and a $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks.
Richardson won’t likely have a season like Darnold did, but he could see a major jump in improvement with a new coaching staff around him.
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