Anthony Richardson Faces Competition for Backup QB Role in Indianapolis

Anthony Richardson, selected fourth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft, is at risk of being positioned third on the Indianapolis Colts' quarterback depth chart.

Despite speculation on social media regarding his demotion behind Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard, Richardson is still vying for the QB2 spot against Leonard. The Colts attempted to find a trade partner for Richardson, but those efforts were unsuccessful. With his guaranteed compensation for 2026, the team has no incentive to release him.

The Colts plan to retain all three quarterbacks into the regular season, as an injury to either Jones or Leonard could increase Richardson's significance. Richardson, who has 16 regular-season appearances and 14 starts over three seasons, needs a strong preseason performance to attract trade interest or improve his standing on the depth chart.