Colts’ Daniel Jones thriving as Anthony Richardson deals with latest injury

Anthony Richardson, dealing with shoulder discomfort this spring, opened the door for free-agency signing Daniel Jones to serve as the Indianapolis Colts’ temporary starting quarterback during their mandatory minicamp that ran from June 10-12.

It certainly sounds as if Jones has an upper hand in what ultimately may become a quarterback competition in name only.

“Very pleased with what we got right now,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said about Jones while speaking with reporters on Thursday, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “He’s been doing a hell of a job. Really smart football player. Learned the offense very quickly. Making really good decisions out there through (organized team activities). Obviously, want to carry that over to training camp, but he’s done a really good job. Great command in the huddle. Ultimate pro.”

Some members of the NFL community suggested almost immediately after Jones joined the Colts in March that it was a matter of when, not if, he would leapfrog Richardson on the depth chart. It’s now unknown if Richardson will be cleared to resume practicing when Colts players report for training camp in late July. 

“Obviously, like I said, very intelligent. He works at it, grinds at it. So not surprised on how he’s picked up the offense,” Steichen continued. “Obviously, those meetings we have in the quarterback room with those guys — the conversations that we have, they’ve been really good. So been very pleased with him.”

The New York Giants unceremoniously showed Jones the door last November, and he’s been a below-average quarterback ever since he guided the Giants to a road playoff win in January 2023. That said, he impressed Indianapolis coaches from his first days in the team’s facility through the club’s final springtime workout. 

“To hear his ideas and his thoughts and have him be a part of that has been really, really interesting,” Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said about Jones, per Nate Atkins of the Indianapolis Star. “He puts in the work sort of early and late. He’s out there communicating with his teammates, trying to put his best foot forward and have his best practice, while also sort of leading the group.”

As of Friday morning, FanDuel Sportsbook listed Jones as a -166 betting favorite to start Indianapolis’ Week 1 game versus the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 7. At this point, it’s fair to wonder if Jones could be named the Colts’ QB1 before Richardson is ready to take a snap in a preseason contest.