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WESTFIELD—The Indianapolis Colts are thrilled to enter training camp and the preseason knowing who their starting quarterback will be when the regular season rolls around.
They’re also comfortable in the belief that they have three players capable of starting at the position after an injury to starter Daniel Jones was a contributing factor to a collapse in the second half of the 2025 season.
The question for the General Manager Chris Ballard and Head Coach Shane Steichen is how to get all three quality reps during the preseason.
“I'll leave that to Shane, but they'll get enough looks in practice and in games to where we'll be able to make a decision,” Ballard said Tuesday. “Look, I'll say this, it's probably the first time in a while I’ve felt really good about the — in totality — the position. I mean, we feel like we have three guys that – with Daniel and AR (Anthony Richardson Sr.) and Riley (Leonard) that all can play. So, that's a good spot to be in right now.”
It is a stark difference from last season when injuries and ineffectiveness prompted the Colts to bring Philip Rivers out of a 4-year retirement in an attempt to save the season.
Jones completed 68% of his passes for over 3,000 yards with 19 touchdowns, five interceptions and a quarterback rating of 100.2 before he was slowed by a leg injury and his season was ended by an Achilles injury. Leonard threw 67 passes and Richardson, the former first round draft pick of the Colts, attempted just two passes.
Jones is the unquestioned starter after being fully cleared from injury, but Steichen likes where all three players are during camp. While the plan for Jones during the upcoming preseason games is unclear, Steichen says both backups will see plenty of action.
“Yeah, those guys will rotate,” Steichen said Wednesday. “I'm really pleased with where AR is at, coming off the eye injury – in the spring and then going into training camp. And Riley too is making good strides as well. So, those guys will rotate. Those guys will compete, and I'm looking forward to that competition with those two guys.”
The team is excited to have Jones back after the locker room was devastated when he went down with an injury last season.
“Yeah, I'm just happy for Daniel,” tight end Tyler Warren said. “Obviously, he’s a great player, but he's a great guy off the field and a good friend. So, I'm glad he he's doing better and he has a chance to play football again, which he loves to do obviously. And we're excited to have him out there. So, I'm just excited for him and ready to just play football with him again.”
For his part, Jones says he is leaving the decision of playing in preseason games up to Steichen.
But he adds that he is feeling good and ready to go for the regular season.
“Yeah, I feel like I made a lot of good progress these last six weeks,” Jones said during Wednesday’s media availability. “Yeah, last time I spoke to you all, was cleared to do stuff, but still, I think there’s a process in getting back and feeling more comfortable, getting some of the strength, some of the twitch back. Felt good out there today and I’ll continue to make steps kind of throughout camp.”
Ballard said no decision has been made on whether Jones will actually play during preseason games, but that all eyes are on the starter during camp. They are watching for effectiveness and mobility.
He did confirm that Richardson’s trade request is still on the table.
“It is, but I think they're realistic and we're realistic,” Ballard said. “We're not just giving him away.”
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They’re also comfortable in the belief that they have three players capable of starting at the position after an injury to starter Daniel Jones was a contributing factor to a collapse in the second half of the 2025 season.
The question for the General Manager Chris Ballard and Head Coach Shane Steichen is how to get all three quality reps during the preseason.
“I'll leave that to Shane, but they'll get enough looks in practice and in games to where we'll be able to make a decision,” Ballard said Tuesday. “Look, I'll say this, it's probably the first time in a while I’ve felt really good about the — in totality — the position. I mean, we feel like we have three guys that – with Daniel and AR (Anthony Richardson Sr.) and Riley (Leonard) that all can play. So, that's a good spot to be in right now.”
It is a stark difference from last season when injuries and ineffectiveness prompted the Colts to bring Philip Rivers out of a 4-year retirement in an attempt to save the season.
Jones completed 68% of his passes for over 3,000 yards with 19 touchdowns, five interceptions and a quarterback rating of 100.2 before he was slowed by a leg injury and his season was ended by an Achilles injury. Leonard threw 67 passes and Richardson, the former first round draft pick of the Colts, attempted just two passes.
Jones is the unquestioned starter after being fully cleared from injury, but Steichen likes where all three players are during camp. While the plan for Jones during the upcoming preseason games is unclear, Steichen says both backups will see plenty of action.
“Yeah, those guys will rotate,” Steichen said Wednesday. “I'm really pleased with where AR is at, coming off the eye injury – in the spring and then going into training camp. And Riley too is making good strides as well. So, those guys will rotate. Those guys will compete, and I'm looking forward to that competition with those two guys.”
The team is excited to have Jones back after the locker room was devastated when he went down with an injury last season.
“Yeah, I'm just happy for Daniel,” tight end Tyler Warren said. “Obviously, he’s a great player, but he's a great guy off the field and a good friend. So, I'm glad he he's doing better and he has a chance to play football again, which he loves to do obviously. And we're excited to have him out there. So, I'm just excited for him and ready to just play football with him again.”
For his part, Jones says he is leaving the decision of playing in preseason games up to Steichen.
But he adds that he is feeling good and ready to go for the regular season.
“Yeah, I feel like I made a lot of good progress these last six weeks,” Jones said during Wednesday’s media availability. “Yeah, last time I spoke to you all, was cleared to do stuff, but still, I think there’s a process in getting back and feeling more comfortable, getting some of the strength, some of the twitch back. Felt good out there today and I’ll continue to make steps kind of throughout camp.”
Ballard said no decision has been made on whether Jones will actually play during preseason games, but that all eyes are on the starter during camp. They are watching for effectiveness and mobility.
He did confirm that Richardson’s trade request is still on the table.
“It is, but I think they're realistic and we're realistic,” Ballard said. “We're not just giving him away.”
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