The Indianapolis Colts have turned to a veteran backup quarterback in consecutive seasons to replace Anthony Richardson, first due to an injury and then due to an in-season benching. As Richardson heads into a critical 2025 campaign, he will now face strong competition from a veteran signal-caller in training camp.
Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, made just four starts in his rookie season before undergoing shoulder surgery. While Gardner Minshew performed well as a fill-in starter, the Colts’ quarterback of the future lost out on valuable development time.
Also Read: NFL free agents by team, Indianapolis Colts free agents 2025
In 2024, Richardson posted a 4-7 TD-INT ratio with a 44.4 percent completion rate and a 57.2 QB rating in his first six starts. The struggles led to Indianapolis benching its former top pick, giving the starting job to Joe Flacco. However, Richardson reclaimed the starting job in Week 11. After showing minimal improvements – a 4-5 TD-INT ratio, 51.1 percent completion rate and 66.2 QB rating – the Colts made a decision.
Speaking to reporters at the NFL Combine, Colts general manager Chris Ballard announced that the team would add a veteran quarterback in NFL free agency to challenge Richardson for the starting job.
“It’s gotta be the right guy to create real competition. But we want to create real competition.”
Indianapolis Colts GM Chris Ballard on the looming QB competition in 2025 (via NFL.com)
Related: 2025 NFL mock draft, see who the Indianapolis Colts take
Examining the Indianapolis Colts quarterback situation
The incentive for Indianapolis is obvious. Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen are both on the hot seat in 2025, needing wins and a more consistent offense to have job security. As a result, the Colts front office and coaching staff have already identified a few quarterbacks available on the open market.
According to ESPN‘s Jeremy Fowler, the Colts’ free-agent targets at quarterback include Daniel Jones and Jacoby Brissett. They seem to be the two preferred options right now for Indianapolis, but the team is also expected to explore Trey Lance and Justin Fields as well.
- Justin Fields stats 2024 (ESPN): 93.3 QB rating, 5-1 TD-INT, 1,106 passing yards, 6.9 yards per attempt, 65.8% completion rate, 289 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns in 10 games
Related: Indianapolis Colts linked to former star quarterback
Some of the names have previous ties to the Colts’ organization. Ballard reportedly had a ‘fondness for Fields‘ ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft. The former first-round pick would also be a seamless fit in Steichen’s offense, allowing Indianapolis to keep its system in place whether Richardson or Fields is the starter in 2025.
Likewise, Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports has reported this offseason that Ballard was also high on Jones during the 2019 NFL Draft. Like Fields, Jones’ dual-threat ability would allow Steichen to make him a key part of the Colts’ run game with Jonathan Taylor and mix in the RPO.
Signing Brissett or Lance would be a greater indication of the Colts’ preference to win the starting job in training camp. Brissett, who played for Indianapolis from 2018-2020, has compiled just an 83.8 QB rating with a 61.4 percent completion rate in 11 games over the last two seasons. As for Lance, the former first-round pick has an 80.3 QB rating and a 5-4 TD-INT rate with a 56.6 percent completion rate in 12 games since 2021.