How Will Colts Split Reps In Quarterback Competition?

INDIANAPOLIS – From the sound of it, the Colts will be having a real, even quarterback competition this offseason.

The “even” part comes from Shane Steichen stating Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones will be splitting reps when the team begins their on-field off-season work in May.

Steichen pointed out the split won’t necessary be Richardson gets one day, Jones gets the next, etc.

While the split might include such a cadence, Steichen said the Colts could even have both quarterbacks getting starting reps on the same day, if that practice is geared more towards a third-down focus or red zone, for example.

The first 11-on-11 look between Richardson and Jones will come May 28. That begins a two-week stretch in which the Colts will hold 6 OTA sessions (out of a possible 10 OTA sessions each team is allowed). A 3-day mandatory minicamp will then take place from June 10-12. That means the Colts will get 9 team session looks at Richardson/Jones this spring before training camp arrives in late July.

Down at the league’s annual meetings last week, Steichen stressed “consistency” and “production” as the two keys to decide this battle.

One would think the Colts will need to handle their 3-game preseason schedule (to be announced later this spring) different than in years past.

In 2024, the Colts had their starting QB (Richardson) throw 4 passes in the preseason opener, not play in the second preseason game and then toss 14 passes in a first half dress rehearsal in their third and final preseason game.

Assuming this QB competition continues to play out in August, Steichen will have to handle preseason playing time differently. That could have some ramifications to August playing-time for the rest of the starting offense, too.

With Jones getting used to a new offense and Richardson in the midst of his first fully healthy NFL offseason, the Colts have a predicament that’s hard to ignore.

Yes, neither Richardson nor Jones has earned the right to have the starting quarterback keys without some competitive heat.

But both quarterbacks also need all the reps they can get.

For Richardson, he’s making some tangible changes to his fundamentals. Putting his lack of game experience to the side (Richardson has 15 career starts compared to 70 career starts for Jones), these precious reps in 11-on-11 settings are beyond needed, so things are as ingrained as possible when the red jersey is shredded come game time.

For Jones, along with learning a new offense, he needs to make improvements to his own quarterback play. Is 4.5 years of starting football enough to know what Jones is or could a bigger commitment to him in a new environment lead to some better chapter?

This is what makes the Colts 2025 quarterback situation so different.

You have two mediocre (is that a compliment?) quarterbacks battling in an offseason where they will be splitting reps.

Given those restrictions, will either actually improve or will this battle end with the Colts still having below average quarterback play?

The battle is less than ideal.

You don’t draft a quarterback 4^th overall thinking he will be in a competition for his starting job in Year 3.

That’s the reality though of where the Colts are in 2025.

“We got to get the consistency,” Chris Ballard said at the league’s meetings. “I think competition is a good thing. It is. Over time it’s been proven that to get better, what’s the best way to do it? You have to be able to press yourself each and every day for high performance. And you do that by having as many good players as you can at that position in the building.

“The best scenario is we win football games. That’s the best scenario — no matter who the starting quarterback is, we win football games. That’s what it comes down to. You figure all the rest of it out as you go along.”

How Will Colts Split Reps In Quarterback Competition? was originally published on 1075thefan.com