Colts common supervisor Chris Ballard added gasoline to the workforce’s budding quarterback controversy on Wednesday when he mentioned the “similarities” between 2024 Week 1 starter Anthony Richardson and 2025 free-agent signing Daniel Jones.
In a video produced by the Colts team website, “Behind The Colts: 2025 Free Company,” Ballard mentioned including Jones to the quarterback room on a one-year, $14 million contract initially of free company.
The nine-year common supervisor made it clear he views the 2019 first-round decide as reliable competitors to overhaul Richardson, who the workforce drafted No. 4 total in 2023, as Indianapolis’ QB1.
“Between Daniel and Anthony, you are going to see a extremely good competitors,” Ballard mentioned. (h/t NFL.com)
“We thought Daniel’s ability set and Anthony’s ability set — there’s a variety of similarities there,” Ballard added. “So offensively, I believe that is going to assist our offensive employees.”
These feedback, which counsel the Colts view Jones and Richardson as interchangeable, lay the groundwork for Jones doubtlessly getting into the 2025 season because the workforce’s beginning quarterback.
Each Jones and Richardson are cellular threats. For his profession, Jones has 2,179 dashing yards and 15 dashing touchdowns on 399 carries (5.5 yards per try), together with a career-high 708 dashing yards in 2022. Richardson has 635 profession dashing yards and 10 dashing touchdowns on 111 carries (5.7 yards per try) in two seasons (15 video games).
No matter who earns the position, neither possibility ought to excite followers. In his final 16 begins courting again to the beginning of the 2023 season, Jones went 3-13 with the Giants, finishing 64.7 % of his go makes an attempt for two,979 yards (5.9 yards per try), 10 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Sadly, that could be an improve over Richardson, who had an alarming 47.7 % completion proportion in 11 begins a season in the past. After finishing 54.7 % of his passes in faculty, it will be overly optimistic for the Colts to consider he’ll make the enhancements essential to turn into their franchise quarterback.
If they offer the Colts related contributions within the operating recreation, whoever is extra constant as a passer ought to have the sting. At this level, that seems to be Jones.
