ESPN analysts Dominique Foxworth and Ryan Clark recently weighed in on the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback competition between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson. As of now, both believe that Jones will be the Colts’ Week 1 starter.
“The Anthony Richardson saga in Indianapolis hasn’t gone smoothly,” said Foxworth. “There have been a lot of bumps in the road, despite the fact that he’s had some outstanding, amazing plays, he hasn’t put together a stretch that would make you believe in him as a quarterback.
“You don’t go get a player like Daniel Jones in order to be just a backup–not that Daniel Jones is amongst the best players in football, but he’s a legitimate starting quarterback. And the injury history for Anthony Richardson is a long one. So I think you’re probably right, Daniel Jones starts the season at quarterback, but I don’t think it’s over for Anthony Richardson, he’s absolutely going to get another shot there in Indianapolis.”
Jones will likely enter training camp with the upper hand after taking the majority of first-team reps during OTAs and then all of the first-team reps during minicamp while Richardson was sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Overall, Shane Steichen was “very pleased” with what he saw from Jones during offseason programs.
The good news for Richardson is that he said recently that he will be ready to go for the first day of training camp. However, it remains to be seen if he will be a full-go on Day 1. Steichen did mention during minicamp that once Richardson returns, he will be eased back into throwing after missing time.
What took place during offseason programs isn’t going to determine who is starting for the Colts come Week 1. But after missing valuable time, Richardson will have to hit the ground running once training camp begins with fewer overall opportunities.
“That’s the difficult part,” said Ryan Clark about the quarterback competition, “the reason that you go there if you’re Daniel Jones is that you believe there’s a great opportunity to start. You don’t want to be a backup for the rest of your career. So I think he is the Day 1 starter and if you’re Anthony Richardson, you have to do all you can do to not only be in training camp on Day 1 but be different in training camp. Move around the building in a different way, to lead in a different way, to show consistency in a different way.
“I think he can be in one of those positions where if he’s not the starter, or doesn’t start at some point this year, he can be move the next year and be fighting to be a backup in this league for years to come.”
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: ESPN analysts weigh in on Colts QB competition with Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones
Reporting by Paul Bretl, Colts Wire / Colts Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
