What Does Daniel Jones Taking “Significant Lead” over Anthony Richardson Mean for Colts?

Daniel Jones is slowly winning over the Colts coaching staff and the locker room.

What Does Daniel Jones Taking “Significant Lead” over Anthony Richardson Mean for Colts?

Daniel Jones (Image via IMAGO)

Daniel Jones arrived in Indianapolis to compete with Anthony Richardson for the starting quarterback role. A few months removed from his first press conference, Jones reportedly has established an edge over his younger subordinate.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen had to look for a new quarterback after Joe Flacco returned to the Cleveland Browns. They identified Jones, who was number two at the Minnesota Vikings last season.

Media and former players questioned the decision. However, Steichen’s gamble appears to have worked in the OTAs and minicamp. According to the Athletic’s James Boyd, the 28-year-old is in the pole position to start for the Colts in week one.

Daniel Jones is QB1 [for the moment]. The Colts signed the ex-Giants/Vikings quarterback in free agency to challenge Anthony Richardson for the QB1 title in Indy, and Jones has already taken a significant lead.

Boyd wrote in his recent article

This coincides with Coach Steichen’s assessment of Jones. He called Jones a “very smart football player” who “learned the offense very quickly, making really good decisions out there through OTAs.”

Richardson, missing out on the minicamp due to aggravating his shoulder, played a big part, but even before that, Jones was ahead in the pecking order. The third-year veteran vowed to continue his training in private and return healthy by the time training camp begins in late July.

I’m gonna be out there spinning it and getting ready for the season. I’m all good, just another bump in the road. And it’s not really even a bump in the road. I feel like I tripped, I fell. Just got back up and hit the ground running again.

Anthony Richardson told 247 Sports’ Zach Goodall

Richardson missed several games during his first two years with the Colts due to a sprained AC joint.

Daniel Jones has the chance to win a prestigious award

Jones’ NFL career looked dire following his departure from the Giants after a 2-8 start to the 2024 season. The percentage of any team giving him a second opportunity midway through the year seemed bleak until the Vikings agreed to make him their practice squad member.

What Does Daniel Jones Taking Significant Lead Over Anthony Richardson Mean for Colts
Daniel Jones (Image via IMAGO)

He quickly rose the ranks as the second in line behind Sam Darnold, watching him rejuvenate his career. NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha predicted that Jones could easily have a resurgence like Darnold at Colts, leading him to bag the Comeback Player of the Year award.

Steichen easily could be the man to take Jones to another level, especially when considering the Colts have better skill players and offensive line play than Jones ever enjoyed in New York. Nobody saw [Sam] Darnold taking off when he arrived in Minnesota. Jones could do similar things in Indy if he stays healthy.

Chadiha wrote

It’s very early to make such assumptions, but Joe Burrow threw 40+ touchdowns after hurting his throwing wrist the previous year. Then again, Burrow is a top 5 quarterback with elite receivers such as Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at the end of his passes.

Jones can take lessons from Saquon Barkley‘s astounding performance en route to winning the Super Bowl in NOLA. Barkley broke the Eagles’ franchise rushing yards record right after leaving the Giants. The 2024-25 Offensive Player of the Year has a soft spot for Jones. When the Duke graduate’s time in New York ended, Barkley took Jones’ side by saying,

Our friendship has stayed close throughout the whole process of me being here… It sucks to see how everything went down out there. But I have nothing but great things to say about him.

Jones has appeared in 70 games, completing 64.1% of his passes for 70 touchdowns and 47 interceptions through the year, along with scoring 15 touchdowns on the ground. He signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Colts.

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