Colts near decision on QB as Richardson-Jones battle tightens

The Indianapolis Colts are closing in on a decision at quarterback as the competition between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones heads into a decisive stretch after another weekend of joint practices and a second preseason game. Richardson, who left the opener with a dislocated finger on his throwing hand, showed enough recovery and timely poise in limited action to remain in the mix, while Jones delivered a steady-to-impressive performance in the latest exhibition, keeping the battle unsettled ahead of Week 1 against Miami.

Richardson’s status remains a factor, but the team has indicated he is progressing. He confirmed that the injury to his right pinkie has improved steadily and has not prevented him from practicing. “It’s been feeling better day by day. It hasn’t stopped me from practicing, I’m excited to keep it going,” he said in a recent appearance. He is poised to come off the bench in the Colts’ next preseason matchup against Green Bay, with the expectation that he will log more playing time than the opposing starter, a measure designed to balance the competition as the Week 1 decision looms.

The coaching staff has stressed that the quarterback competition is a process,...