While speaking with reporters on Monday, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen was asked whether the fact that Anthony Richardson Sr. was charged with a misdemeanor for possession of marijuana following a traffic stop that occurred in Carmel, Ind., on Oct. 12 factored into the decision to keep Daniel Jones as the starting quarterback when the 2-5 Colts play the 4-2 Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 1.
“No, it does not, not at all,” Steichen said, per Michael Marot of the Associated Press. “I’ve had private conversations with Anthony, and I’ll keep those private.”
For a piece published on Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Ben Solak made it known he isn’t buying what Steichen was trying to sell when Solak predicted that backup Riley Leonard, not Richardson, will be Indianapolis’ QB1 by Week 10 of the season.
Will Anthony Richardson Sr. face a demotion after marijuana possession charge, comments?
“Richardson faces a misdemeanor charge for marijuana possession following a traffic stop earlier this month,” Solak wrote. “While he faces no imminent punishment from the league — the legal process has yet to play out — this is the sort of error that shakes up a QB2 depth chart.”
Richardson may have done himself few favors when he responded to a question regarding his legal situation this past Sunday by saying that he doesn’t “really regret anything I do.” James Boyd of The Athletic later noted that Richardson “should be doing everything in his power to give the Colts and any future NFL team a reason to put him back on the field, not a reason to keep him off it.”
Colts have more than one reason to play Riley Leonard over Anthony Richardson Sr.?
Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon fired general manager Chris Ballard following Indianapolis’ Week 6 loss to the previously winless Tennessee Titans, and Jones presumably could be benched as soon as during the Jaguars game if he plays poorly at EverBank Stadium. As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Colts as 7.5-point road underdogs for that game.
“Leonard has the advantage of extra contract years as the Colts look for a bridge starter in 2027; he has two additional seasons of team control after this one, and Richardson is a 2027 free agent,” Solak added about Indianapolis’ quarterback situation.
It remains to be seen whether Leonard or Richardson will be the Colts’ primary backup against the Jaguars this coming Sunday.
This content was brought to you by: Yardbarker: NFL
