Anthony Richardson Sr. won Indianapolis’ backup quarterback competition, giving the Colts a defined second option behind Daniel Jones after an offseason that began with Richardson seeking a trade. Shane Steichen announced the decision on September 3, with Riley Leonard assigned the third quarterback spot.
“I’m thankful they believe in me enough to promote me to QB2,” Richardson said in the team’s announcement. He and Leonard had shared second- and third-team practice work and substantial preseason playing time before the coaching staff settled the order.
Updated September 14, 2026: This report preserves the September 3 decision as its news focus. The regular-season depth chart and completed opener are identified separately below.
The preseason supplied evidence, not an uninterrupted success story
The Colts’ announcement recorded Richardson at 21 completions on 33 attempts for 249 yards across the preseason. That is a 63.6-percent completion rate, calculated from the team’s figures. The overall line supported a more productive account than judging him solely by his weakest appearance.
His August 22 outing against Atlanta showed why the evaluation still required qualification. Richardson completed three of nine passes for 24 yards while playing the second half. Indianapolis struggled to sustain offense in a 34-6 loss, and Richardson’s response was to emphasize finding ways to help the team.
That performance came after an 11-for-14 passing appearance against New England. The contrast mattered: the competition offered coaches different examples to evaluate rather than one uniform display of efficiency. Practice command, decisions and the ability to respond to a poor series belonged alongside the final passing totals.
A trade request did not remove him from the competition
Richardson and his representation requested a trade in February. The Colts’ April owners-meeting coverage made clear that remaining in Indianapolis was still possible. General manager Chris Ballard continued to praise Richardson’s development and approach rather than presenting a move as inevitable.
The same report provided context for the quarterback room. Richardson had been Jones’ backup in 2025 before an eye injury during October warmups interrupted his season. He returned to practice in December but did not return to game action. Leonard, meanwhile, received work after Jones’ Achilles injury and started the season finale.
Those different experiences helped explain why this was a meaningful competition. Indianapolis was evaluating a former starter returning from a disrupted year alongside a younger quarterback who had received late-season opportunities. Neither could settle the 2026 order through draft status alone.
What the September depth chart confirmed
The Colts’ September 8 unofficial depth chart listed Jones first, Richardson second and Leonard third. It confirmed the opening-week arrangement without suggesting Richardson had reclaimed the starting job.
That distinction leaves the news report separate from the longer-term career question. QB2 put Richardson next in the listed order if Indianapolis needed another quarterback. It did not announce a change in Jones’ role, guarantee Richardson a set number of snaps or establish that a later transaction was impossible.
For that broader discussion, FSN’s Richardson promotion and trade-request analysis examines the possible implications. The confirmed development here was the coaching staff’s personnel decision.
September 13 update: Jones remained the starter
Jones led the offense in Indianapolis’ 41-23 opening loss to Baltimore. In its September 14 review, the team examined his first game since the Achilles injury and the offense’s difficulty creating explosive plays.
That result moves the calendar beyond the original announcement without changing what the announcement meant. Richardson earned the backup assignment; evaluating his progress from there requires evidence from preparation and any opportunities he receives, not simply relabeling the Colts’ offensive difficulties as a new quarterback competition.
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Expanded September 14, 2026: This article now includes the announcement date, primary-source preseason context, the opening depth chart and a labeled post-opener update. It does not present the backup decision as a new starting assignment or a guaranteed full-season arrangement. Original publication date, URL and featured image retained.