Anthony Richardson entered 2026 wanting a different NFL address. He enters Week 1 as the Indianapolis Colts’ backup quarterback.
That does not erase the trade request Richardson made earlier in the year, but it changes the context around it. Head coach Shane Steichen named the former No. 4 overall pick QB2 behind Daniel Jones, with Riley Leonard opening the season as the third quarterback. For the Colts, the decision gives the roster a more experienced insurance option. For Richardson, it creates a new opportunity to rebuild value without leaving Indianapolis.
Winning QB2 matters because Richardson’s career had been moving the other direction
Richardson’s path since entering the league has been defined by flashes, injuries and uncertainty. The physical talent that made him a top-five pick has never been the question. Availability, consistency and long-term fit have been.
By the start of this offseason, the relationship had reached the point where Richardson and his representation requested a trade. That usually signals a player believes a clearer opportunity exists elsewhere.
Instead, Indianapolis kept him, brought him through the offseason program and allowed him to compete with Leonard for the backup job. Richardson won that competition after a preseason in which he completed 21 of 33 passes for 249 yards.
The Colts now have a backup with actual starting experience
That is the immediate football value. Jones is the starter, but he is returning from a serious Achilles injury. Indianapolis cannot treat the backup position as an afterthought.
Richardson has played meaningful NFL snaps, has prepared as a starter and possesses a skill set that can alter the offense if he is forced into a game. That does not mean the Colts would run the exact same plan with him that they use with Jones. It means the coaching staff has a backup who can create offense with his legs and threaten defenses vertically.
Leonard can continue developing without being rushed. That separation of roles gives the quarterback room more clarity than it had during camp.
The promotion also changes Richardson’s leverage
A player buried as QB3 has little immediate football leverage. A player who is one snap away from entering the game has more.
If Richardson handles the backup role professionally and performs well when given opportunities, his market can change. Teams looking for quarterback help later in the season may view him differently if he shows progress within Indianapolis’ system.
That does not mean a trade is coming. It means the path is no longer purely negative. Richardson can improve his position by playing well, practicing well and showing teams that the developmental story is not over.
Indianapolis benefits from patience too
The Colts could have moved Richardson simply to resolve the tension. Keeping him preserved depth at the most important position on the roster.
That choice now looks more understandable. Jones is the clear starter, Leonard remains a developmental player, and Richardson gives the team a backup who can plausibly win games if needed.
The challenge is managing the human side of the arrangement. Richardson requested a trade because he wanted a different opportunity. The Colts have to keep communication clear so the backup role does not become a weekly source of friction.
What the decision does not mean
Being named QB2 is not the same as reclaiming the franchise-quarterback job. Indianapolis has made its hierarchy clear. Jones starts. Richardson backs him up. Leonard develops behind them.
It also does not guarantee Richardson will remain with the Colts for the entire season. The NFL’s quarterback market can change quickly once injuries begin. A strong preseason and a defined QB2 role could make Richardson more attractive to another team if Indianapolis is willing to listen.
Daniel Jones’ health makes the backup job more than ceremonial
Jones is the unquestioned starter, but he is also returning from a season-ending Achilles injury. The Colts have praised his recovery, and the expectation is that he will lead the offense, but the nature of the injury makes the quality of the backup plan especially relevant.
That is where Richardson’s experience separates him from a normal developmental No. 2. He has been through NFL game plans, handled starting-week preparation and experienced the speed of regular-season defenses. If Jones has to miss time, Indianapolis would be turning to a quarterback with real starting exposure rather than asking Leonard to learn on the fly.
The offensive style would change. Richardson’s running ability and vertical arm talent create different possibilities than Jones’ game, while his inconsistency still creates risk. But that difference can be planned for, which is preferable to having no credible alternative.
The trade request now looks less like a dead end
Richardson’s February trade request remains active context because it told the league he was open to a fresh start. What has changed is his standing inside Indianapolis. He did not respond to the lack of a trade by disengaging. Team officials repeatedly described him as professional, and he earned the backup job through the offseason competition.
That matters to potential suitors too. A quarterback who handles an uncomfortable situation well can improve his reputation even without starting. If another team suffers an injury or becomes dissatisfied with its quarterback room, Indianapolis could receive calls from clubs that now see Richardson as a more stable reclamation option.
The Colts would then face a different decision: protect their own depth or convert a former top-five pick into draft value. The answer could depend on Jones’ health, Leonard’s development and the quality of any offer.
Richardson still controls part of the outcome
The most important thing Richardson can do is make the Colts want to keep him. That starts in practice. Backup quarterbacks get limited public opportunities, so coaches judge preparation, command of the offense and decision-making long before fans see meaningful snaps.
If he continues to improve those areas, the 2026 season can become a rehabilitation year for his career even if he never starts. If he stagnates, the QB2 label will be temporary rather than transformative.
For the first time in months, Richardson’s future is not being defined only by what went wrong. He has a role, a chance to be one play from the field and a path to rebuild value. That is a meaningful shift.
What comes next
Richardson’s next challenge is less dramatic than winning a starting competition, but it may be just as important for his career. He has to prepare every week as though he will play while knowing he may spend most Sundays watching.
That requires consistency and patience, two qualities that can be difficult for a former top-five pick whose career has not followed the expected path.
The trade request remains part of the story. The QB2 promotion adds a new chapter. Richardson is still looking for the long-term role he wants, but he now has a better position from which to prove he deserves one.