Colts name Daniel Jones Week 1 starter, Richardson backup

Daniel Jones will start for the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 of the 2025 season, with Anthony Richardson remaining on the roster as the primary backup. The decision, announced by head coach Shane Steichen after a short training camp competition, marks a shift from the younger, high-draft prospect toward a veteran option the organization believes can deliver steadier play and immediate results.

Steichen stated that Jones will be the starting quarterback for the season and made clear there would be no short leash. “He’s our starting quarterback for the season, and I don’t want to have a quick leash on that,” Steichen said, emphasizing a longer view aimed at winning today while building a workable framework around the offense. Jones, who signed a one-year, $14 million deal in March after being released by the Giants and briefly with the Vikings, immediately assumes control of a roster regarded as capable of competing in the near term.

Richardson’s benching has been explained by the coaching staff as a matter of consistency, reliability, and ball placement rather than a blanket indictment of his talent. Quarterbacks coach Cam Turner described Richardson’s situation candidly, saying...