Easy choice for NFL insider on who Indianapolis Colts' starting quarterback should be

Colts Face Crucial Decision: Will They Stick with Richardson or Go with Jones?

NFL Insider Predicts Week 1 Starter and Emphasizes Importance of Giving Young QB a Chance

ESPN NFL insider Field Yates believes the Indianapolis Colts should start Anthony Richardson at quarterback in Week 1, arguing that sticking with Daniel Jones would leave them "stuck in the middle."

“It’s Anthony Richardson,” Yates stated via Horseshoe Huddle. “Because I believe in the NFL, the most dangerous place to be is stuck in the middle, and I think the Colts are probably stuck in the middle if Daniel Jones is their starting quarterback this season.”

While Jones has had one standout season, Yates contends that he’s essentially a "replacement-level" quarterback.

“Anthony Richardson has had two mediocre, albeit injury-impacted, seasons in his NFL career,” Yates acknowledged. “There's still a chance, a flicker of hope that Anthony Richardson could become a promising, young quarterback.”

Yates emphasizes that the Colts should give Richardson every opportunity to succeed.

"The Colts owe it to not just Anthony, but to themselves as an organization, to exhaust every resource in figuring out if they have something or nothing,” Yates continued. “I don’t know if the chances at this point are strong or weak. Probably weaker more than they are stronger, but this is a player who they invested too much in to constantly use a short leash on Anthony Richardson."

Win-Now Mentality Meets Long-Term Investment

While GM Chris Ballard has repeatedly expressed his faith in Richardson and the need for patience, the Colts' current situation adds pressure. After missing the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, Ballard faces a "win-now" mentality to save his job.

The team’s decision to bring in competition is a two-pronged approach: raising Richardson's level of play through increased urgency and giving Ballard another option if Richardson doesn't deliver.

Richardson Showing Signs of Progress

Through six training camp practices, Richardson has shown improvement, particularly in his footwork and accuracy on short to intermediate throws – areas he struggled with last season, completing just 47% of his overall passes. The hard work this offseason is evident on the practice field.

The Colts' Week 1 quarterback decision remains a key storyline heading into the regular season.