The Indianapolis Colts have named Anthony Richardson their No. 2 quarterback behind starter Daniel Jones for the 2026 season.
Head coach Shane Steichen officially announced the decision, signaling a shift in focus for the former first-round pick who spent much of the offseason seeking a trade.
A Competitive Preseason
Richardson secured the backup role by outperforming Riley Leonard during training camp and the preseason games. The statistical disparity was clear across three exhibition matches.
In those contests, Richardson completed 21 of 33 passes for 249 yards. He threw one interception and no touchdowns while rushing for 53 yards and a score on six carries in the opener.
Leonard finished with 20 of 42 completions for 199 yards, throwing two interceptions and no touchdowns during the same period.
What This Means
This designation puts Richardson in a clear role as the primary backup to Jones. The decision follows his previous trade request earlier in the offseason, marking a new chapter for the No. 4 overall pick from the 2023 NFL Draft.
Richardson is entering the final year of his rookie contract while establishing himself as the established second option on the roster.