When the young Colts quarterback suffered a season-ending shoulder injury just five weeks into his rookie campaign, Ballard preached patience. When Richardson was benched midseason<\/a> last year in favor of then 39-year-old Joe Flacco, Ballard preached patience. When Richardson was thrust into an open QB competition this offseason with Daniel Jones, Ballard preached patience.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, however, it seemed the organization\u2019s patience had run out. Colts coach Shane Steichen announced that Jones won the starting job<\/a>, with Steichen choosing to prioritize the present with Jones over the future with Richardson.<\/p>\n \u201cI think this league is a year-to-year league,\u201d Steichen said. \u201cWhat do I feel is best for the Indianapolis Colts in 2025? I\u2019ve got to make these decisions. That\u2019s what I get paid to do. And I gotta go with what I feel is right.\u201d<\/p>\n While picking Jones might \u201cfeel\u201d right for Steichen, that choice comes with another feeling, as well. It feels like the Colts admitted Tuesday that they whiffed on Richardson, the most important pick of Ballard\u2019s nine-year tenure as GM. It also feels like Steichen, who heavily advocated for the Colts to draft Richardson in 2023, is admitting the Richardson ship has capsized as he jumps onto the nearest lifeboat with Jones at the helm.<\/p>\n Maybe Jones does give the Colts the best chance to win in 2025, but in a QB competition in which neither passer truly pulled away from the other, Jones was always the safer pick.<\/p>\n Of course, choosing Jones is justified given Richardson\u2019s well-documented struggles on the field and the litany of injuries that have often kept him off it. Ballard noted that Richardson\u2019s inability to stay healthy (17 missed games due to injury over the last two seasons) was the No. 1 reason the Colts pursued competition for him in the first place. That cracked the door open for Jones, who inked a one-year, $14 million deal to even come here.<\/p>\n And Richardson hasn\u2019t done himself any favors in the aftermath of Jones\u2019 arrival. He was shut down in the spring due to a throwing shoulder injury and dislocated his right pinkie finger in the preseason opener. He has continued to prove he can\u2019t be trusted to stay on the field.<\/p>\n But the idea that Richardson\u2019s second benching in nine months can somehow be spun into a positive for his development isn\u2019t very moving. Richardson needs to play to prove he is capable of being more accurate and more available. That\u2019s not an option for a player standing on the sideline on Sundays.<\/p>\n Ballard recently scoffed at the idea of Richardson\u2019s 2025 campaign being a make-or-break season; four weeks later, the Colts have asked for a break from Richardson \u2014 perhaps permanently.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes, you\u2019ve got to have a little patience with a guy and let them grow through things,\u201d Ballard of Richardson in July. \u201cNow \u2026 if you just know this guy (can\u2019t succeed and think), \u2018No, he can\u2019t do it,\u2019 (then you move on). But if you think, \u2018Hey, he\u2019s on the right trajectory,\u2019 why are you going to flush him?\u2019 Just because people outside think you should flush him, I don\u2019t agree with that.<\/p>\n \u201cI think we need to give Anthony every chance to be the best he can be. I think he can be really good, but things gotta come together.\u201d<\/p>\n Currently, in Richardson\u2019s world, things seem to be falling apart.<\/p>\n It\u2019s worth noting that Jones, entering his seventh NFL season, has played only one full season without missing a game due to injury or being benched. Based on that track record, Richardson, who is 8-7 in just 15 career starts, should have a legitimate chance to start again in 2025.<\/p>\n However, as the 23-year-old heads back to the bench, there still seems to be no clear plan for his development in Indianapolis. Asked Tuesday if he has faith in the Colts to guide his future, Richardson sidestepped the question.<\/p>\n \u201cI have faith in God and whatever he has in store for me. I\u2019m trusting in him,\u201d Richardson said. \u201cI can\u2019t really think about anything else because if I do that, then I\u2019mma put myself in a hole. So, I just gotta trust in the Lord, and I gotta be where I am right now. And right now, I\u2019m an Indianapolis Colt.\u201d<\/p>\n Richardson\u2019s agent, Deiric Jackson, was more frank, telling ESPN<\/a> he isn\u2019t sure about Richardson\u2019s future with the team.<\/p>\n \u201cTrust is a big factor, and that is, at best, questionable right now,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n If there is a path to Richardson still becoming the face of the Colts franchise, history would suggest that it will likely take a mini miracle. How many instances, if any, can you think of where a quarterback, who was selected with a top-five pick, was benched twice by the team that drafted him and then somehow rebounded with that same franchise and went on to become a star?<\/p>\n I\u2019m drawing a blank, too.<\/p>\n In a sense, the Colts\u2019 second benching of Richardson feels like they\u2019re asking for a do-over. Ballard has stated that he wishes the Colts hadn\u2019t played Richardson right away.<\/p>\n
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