Following an intense competition that extended throughout training camp, the Indianapolis Colts have named Daniel Jones their starting quarterback for the Week 1 opener against the Miami Dolphins. Jones won the job over former first-round pick Anthony Richardson.
Jones, 28, signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Colts this offseason. His arrival followed a turbulent 2024 season, which he split between the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. After being benched by the Giants, Jones requested and was granted his release before signing with the Vikings for the remainder of the year.
The former No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft has had an inconsistent career, throwing for 14,582 yards and 70 touchdowns in his first six seasons. His best performance came in 2022, when he passed for a career-high 3,205 yards and led New York to a playoff appearance, which earned him a four-year, $160 million contract extension.
For Richardson, the No. 4 pick in the 2023 draft, this was the first true starting competition of his young career. Injuries have been a persistent issue, limiting him to just 15 appearances over his first two seasons. His rookie campaign ended after four games due to season-ending shoulder surgery, while various ailments cut his second year short.
When healthy, Richardson has shown the dual-threat potential that made him a top prospect, combining impressive arm strength with 635 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. However, accuracy has remained a significant challenge, as evidenced by his career 50.5% completion rate.
Heading into the 2025 season, the Colts have the third-best odds (3-1) to win the AFC South, behind the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars. Indianapolis is currently ranked ninth among AFC teams in odds to reach the playoffs.
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