As the mandatory minicamp phase of the NFL offseason approaches, the Indianapolis Colts are faced with a tough scenario. The team’s starting quarterback, Anthony Richardson, is not expected to take part in the camp at all, according to reports.
For former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, that’s a situation that will call for him to step up and put the start of his comeback campaign to the test.
Back in March, Jones signed with the Colts on a one-year deal, which was worth a reported $14 million. He was entering a situation where he would get serious consideration as a potential starter after losing his job with the Giants one season prior.
Before Jones signed with the Colts, NFL general manager Chris Ballard told reporters that the team planned to bring in a quarterback not just to back up Richardson, but to compete.
“It’s gotta be the right guy to create real competition,” Ballard said, according to Colts.com. “But we want to create real competition. I think it’s good for the team, I think it’s good for Anthony. “It’ll be open. And of course, it’s got to be somebody that can really challenge from a production standpoint.”
Eventually, the quarterback Ballard was describing was revealed to be Daniel Jones.
At this stage in Jones’ career, his stock is at a low. The 28-year-old joined the Giants in 2019 as the sixth-overall pick out of Duke. He was given the keys to the franchise, which led to him becoming a full-time starter for six seasons in a row. After starting in 10 games in 2024, Jones was benched by the Giants.
It didn’t take long before Jones and the Giants agreed to a separation. It wasn’t an ugly one, but it came as a shock, considering the Giants thought highly of Jones recently, investing a four-year deal with $160 million in him.
Last year, Jones spent some time with the Minnesota Vikings. Long-term, there wasn’t a fit. When he hit the free agency market at the start of the new league year, Jones decided that joining the Colts could be a good situation. Soon, he’ll put his comeback efforts to the test.
Per Shane Steichen – QB Anthony Richardson is dealing with a shoulder injury and will not participate in mini-camp next week. pic.twitter.com/obF7ggLAvk
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) June 5, 2025
As for Richardson, his future is blurry at the moment. When Colts head coach Shane Steichen addressed the media on Thursday, he described the setback as some “aggravation’ in Richardson’s AC joint.
“Not gonna put a timetable for training camp on it, but when he does come back, we’ll ease him into throwing, and then we’ll go from there,” the head coach said. “The good thing is he’s not gonna need a procedure right now.”
The Jones-Richardson battle will be something to keep an eye on when the Colts reach training camp this summer.
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