If you’re just looking at Anthony Richardson’s statistics from the first half of Thursday’s preseason opener for the Indianapolis Colts, remember this truth: Stats lie.
The stats from the first half of this game when the quarterback played speak to a solid outing. He completed 11 of 14 passes. That’s good. His quarterback rating was a respectable 80.1.
And Richardson led the Colts on a second-quarter TD drive.
COLTS DECLINE ANTHONY RICHARDSON’S FIFTH-YEAR OPTION, SETTING FORMER NO. 4 OVERALL PICK UP FOR FREE AGENCY
But those stats that suggest this was acceptable for a first game of 2026 lie. Because Richardson threw an interception on his third pass of the game. And he fumbled in the second quarter.
And those turnovers are what will glow in neon when coach Shane Steichen studies the game tape on Sunday, regardless of what he might tell reporters before or afterward.
So, the grand Anthony Richardson experiment that was supposed to deliver a franchise quarterback certainly by the start of his fourth NFL season isn’t going as scripted.
The experiment instead caught fire Thursday evening and blew up the lab.
And what does this all mean?
This ain’t it.
Richardson did lead a touchdown drive, completing an 18-yard pass and a 9-yard pass on a screen. He also had a 7-yard run and scored on a 1-yard sneak, reminding everyone that he’s a great athlete capable of doing damage with his legs.
But the turnovers were cringey. They remind everyone that Richardson didn’t play enough his previous three seasons and he doesn’t maximize opportunities when he does play.
Richardson, you’ll recall, arrived in Indianapolis as one of the NFL’s biggest swings for the fences in the 2023 draft. Colts GM Chris Ballard drafted him with the No. 4 overall pick.
The GM weighed Richardson’s 13 starts at the University of Florida, which everyone knew wasn’t enough, against his amazing size, strength, ability to run and bazooka right arm.
And the decision was that Richardson was worth the risk. But the quarterback started only four games as a rookie before a shoulder injury ended his season. He returned as the Colts’ starter in 2024 and remained a dangerous runner, producing 499 rushing yards and six touchdowns, but his development as a passer was erratic.
He completed only 47.7% of his throws with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions, briefly lost the starting job after tapping out of a game because he was tired and finished the season having raised as many questions about his future as he answered.
Then things got really bad.
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The Colts signed Daniel Jones, himself a draft washout with the New York Giants, as a free agent to compete with Richardson.
Jones won the job — and quite easily, in hindsight.
To make matters worse, Richardson couldn’t help the team when Jones got injured last year because he was also injured (again).
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He actually injured himself prior to a game while working with stretch bands. So the Colts, needing a starter, turned to Riley Leonard and then to veteran Philip Rivers.
Now 24, Richardson is no longer being evaluated as the Colts’ quarterback of the future. He’s competing with Leonard for the backup job behind Jones. Neither player is dominating because Leonard also threw an interception on his second possession of the second half.
Daniel Jones better stay healthy for Indianapolis.
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