Some NFL analysts stay a minimum of barely skeptical that former New York Giants beginning quarterback Daniel Jones will win the Indianapolis Colts’ QB1 job over 2023 first-round draft choose Anthony Richardson this summer season.
For a bit up to date on Thursday, Colts reporter James Boyd of The Athletic recommended that normal supervisor Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen are hoping Jones will assist enhance Richardson’s behind-the-scenes work en path to the 22-year-old remaining atop the Indianapolis depth chart via a minimum of Week 1 of the 2025 season.
“I consider Jones’ dedication is likely one of the largest causes the Colts introduced him in for his or her open QB competitors,” Boyd defined. “Time will inform if Indianapolis is severe about doubtlessly shifting on from Richardson earlier than he begins one other sport for the franchise, which nonetheless seems like an extended shot, however the crew wished somebody to gentle a hearth underneath Richardson. The simplest approach to do this? Placing Jones proper beside him as a continuing reminder of what it means to be an expert.”
Richardson’s inconsistent play coupled along with his admitting that he took himself out of a sport as a result of he was “drained” made it simple for Steichen to bench the younger signal-caller for a pair of November contests this previous fall. Steichen later indicated that Richardson wanted to point out “nice development in all facets,” similar to “the every day technique of the conferences and the walkthroughs and the follow.”
In December, defensive sort out DeForest Buckner revealed that he and different veteran Colts gamers met with Richardson in the course of the quarterback’s demotion to let him know “that the usual wasn’t being met” and “that he [needed] to choose it up.”
In the meantime, Jones’ dedication to the trigger by no means got here into query throughout his Giants tenure, even after the “Arduous Knocks: Offseason with the New York Giants” program made it clear that normal supervisor Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll wished to search out Jones’ long-term substitute in the course of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Giants benched and subsequently launched Jones when the membership was 2-8 in November.
“He’ll are available in, I’m certain, with a giant chip on his shoulder as a result of he was fairly p—– off with how every little thing went down final season,” Giants reporter Dan Duggan stated about Jones for Thursday’s article. “Not solely did they attempt to commerce up and do away with him, additionally they documented it on ‘Arduous Knocks.’ So, he’ll by no means actually present it, however once you discuss to folks round him, it definitely bothered him.”
Maybe a few of Jones’ motivation to silence doubters will rub off on Richardson between the beginning of springtime exercises and Indianapolis’ closing preseason sport this August.
