Some NFL analysts stay no less than barely skeptical that former New York Giants beginning quarterback Daniel Jones will win the Indianapolis Colts’ QB1 job over 2023 first-round draft choose Anthony Richardson this summer season.
For a bit up to date on Thursday, Colts reporter James Boyd of The Athletic recommended that normal supervisor Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen are hoping Jones will assist enhance Richardson’s behind-the-scenes work en path to the 22-year-old remaining atop the Indianapolis depth chart by no less than Week 1 of the 2025 season.
“I imagine Jones’ dedication is without doubt one of the largest causes the Colts introduced him in for his or her open QB competitors,” Boyd defined. “Time will inform if Indianapolis is critical about probably transferring on from Richardson earlier than he begins one other sport for the franchise, which nonetheless seems like a protracted shot, however the workforce wished somebody to mild a fireplace below Richardson. The simplest means to try this? Placing Jones proper beside him as a continuing reminder of what it means to be knowledgeable.”
Richardson’s inconsistent play coupled along with his admitting that he took himself out of a sport as a result of he was “drained” made it simple for Steichen to bench the younger signal-caller for a pair of November contests this previous fall. Steichen later indicated that Richardson wanted to indicate “nice development in all facets,” reminiscent of “the each day technique of the conferences and the walkthroughs and the apply.”
In December, defensive deal with DeForest Buckner revealed that he and different veteran Colts gamers met with Richardson in the course of the quarterback’s demotion to let him know “that the usual wasn’t being met” and “that he [needed] to choose it up.”
In the meantime, Jones’ dedication to the trigger by no means got here into query throughout his Giants tenure, even after the “Exhausting Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” program made it clear that normal supervisor Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll wished to search out Jones’ long-term substitute in the course of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Giants benched and subsequently launched Jones when the membership was 2-8 in November.
“He’ll are available in, I’m positive, with a giant chip on his shoulder as a result of he was fairly p—– off with how the whole lot went down final season,” Giants reporter Dan Duggan stated about Jones for Thursday’s article. “Not solely did they attempt to commerce up and eliminate him, additionally they documented it on ‘Exhausting Knocks.’ So, he’ll by no means actually present it, however while you discuss to individuals round him, it definitely bothered him.”
Maybe a few of Jones’ motivation to silence doubters will rub off on Richardson between the beginning of springtime exercises and Indianapolis’ ultimate preseason sport this August.