The NFL road has gotten rocky for former Florida football quarterback Anthony Richardson.
After being taken fourth overall by the Indianapolis Colts in 2023, the ex-Gator has now lost his starting job to Daniel Jones, raising questions about whether he has a long-term future in Indianapolis.
Colts quarterbacks coach Cameron Turner addressed the move this week, pointing directly to Richardson’s uneven play.
“I feel like I’ve tried everything I can do and I feel like he’s giving great effort in that aspect, too,” Turner said, according to USA TODAY Sports. He added, “I don’t think either way, one or the other. I just think, right now, the consistency is not where we wanted it to be.”
While Turner emphasized that Richardson has shown effort, the staff ultimately felt Jones offered more reliability at this point.
Draft history paints a grim picture
Richardson’s benching looks especially troubling when put into historical context. According to the Florida Times-Union, only five quarterbacks taken in the top five since 1966 have started fewer games than Richardson, who currently sits at 15 career starts.
That short list includes Trey Lance, Art Schlichter, Rick Norton, Greg Cook, and Clint Longley—names remembered more for their disappointments than their achievements.
Richardson’s challenges were apparent even before he stepped onto an NFL field. He left Florida with just 13 college starts, far fewer than his draft classmates C.J. Stroud and Bryce Young. Injuries quickly piled up in the pros—concussions, shoulder problems, oblique strains and more—making it nearly impossible to build continuity.
What comes next for Richardson
Right now, Richardson’s best shot is to get back on the field at some point this season and prove he’s still worth investing in. A strong outing or two could flip the narrative and remind teams why he was taken so high in the first place. If that doesn’t happen, he may have to settle into a backup role.
The truth is, the NFL rarely gives out do-overs. Lance has bounced around, and even a guy like Blake Bortles never got another chance to start despite leading the Jaguars to the playoffs. For Florida fans who watched Richardson’s jaw-dropping athleticism in the Swamp, it feels way too soon for the league to be giving up on him.
Still, the clock is ticking—and Richardson has to show he belongs before that window closes for good.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: NFL setback: Former Florida football QB Anthony Richardson benched by Indianapolis Colts
Reporting by Aidan Gallardo, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
