The Indianapolis Colts have named Daniel Jones their starting quarterback for Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, the team announced on Tuesday. Jones earned the job over Anthony Richardson, the former No. 4 overall pick, after a spirited training camp competition.
Jones, 28, joined the Colts on a one-year, $14 million contract this offseason following stints with the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings last season. He was benched in the middle of the season in favor of Tommy DeVito and later requested his release before signing with Minnesota to finish the year, then moving to Indianapolis.
A former No. 6 overall pick out of Duke in the 2019 NFL Draft, Jones has compiled 14,582 passing yards and 70 touchdowns over his first six seasons. His most productive year came in 2022, when he threw for 3,205 yards and led the Giants to the playoffs, earning a four-year, $160 million extension.
Anthony Richardson, the 2023 first-round pick out of Florida, faced real competition for the job in camp for the first time in his young career. Richardson began his rookie season as the starter in 2023 but spent time sidelined by injuries and saw limited action. In his two NFL seasons, he’s appeared in 15 games, including a rookie year cut short by season-ending shoulder surgery and a 2024 campaign limited by back, foot, and hip issues. When healthy, Richardson has flashed the potential that made him such a high pick, combining arm strength with rushing ability (635 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns), but accuracy has been a hurdle, sitting around a 50.5% completion rate.
Odds and outlook: The Colts enter the 2025 campaign with the third-best odds to win the AFC South (3-1) behind the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars, per FanDuel. Indianapolis sits at ninth-best to make the playoffs among AFC teams at +172.
Summary: Daniel Jones brings veteran experience and a steadier presence at quarterback as the Colts begin the season with a stated plan to contend in a competitive AFC South, while Richardson continues to develop behind him, offering upside and athleticism for the future.
Key takeaways
– Daniel Jones is Indianapolis’s Week 1 starter over Anthony Richardson.
– Jones signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Colts this offseason.
– Richardson remains a high-ceiling talent whose development will shape Indianapolis’s future at quarterback.
– Colts are positioned with 3-1 odds to win the AFC South and +172 to reach the playoffs, according to FanDuel.
Additional notes
– The decision signals a focus on immediate stability and proven NFL experience to start the season.
– The Colts’ quarterback plans leave room for Richardson to grow into a larger role, depending on Jones’s performance and health.
Logical commentary
– By naming Jones the starter, Indianapolis prioritizes a quarterback who can manage games and minimize costly mistakes while the team builds around a potentially explosive playmaking duo, if Richardson continues to develop. This approach can help the offense harness more consistent production early in the season while preserving Richardson’s long-term upside as he gains more experience.