Anthony Richardson Sr.
Richardson requested a trade but remains on the Colts' roster with about two and a half weeks until the start of the team's voluntary offseason program.
General manager Chris Ballard said a scenario does exist in which Richardson, the 2023 No. 4 overall pick, stays on the Colts' roster in 2026. Richardson began the 2025 season as Daniel Jones' backup before sustaining a fractured orbital bone in a freak accident during pregame warmups in October. He returned to practice for a few weeks at the end of the 2025 season but was not activated off injured reserve.
"He's too talented, he's a good dude and he's talented," Ballard said. "I mean, I still want good for Anthony. I think he's got a lot in him, and he's had some freaking bad luck. But I still think Anthony, he's got a lot of ability and he's maturing and growing. He's still young."
Colts Owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon, too, said she's "proud" of how the 23-year-old Richardson handled himself through some truly difficult circumstances.
"He's been a good teammate," Irsay-Gordon said. "He's grown. He was so young. You know, I forget how many games he played before he came to us, but it wasn't very many. And, you know, just having another freak accident is high and dealing with these other injuries, but he's so immensely talented, and I feel like the world is his oyster. He totally has an opportunity to have a career in the NFL if he wants to."
As Jones works his way back from a torn Achilles', though, expect 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard to take first-team reps during OTA practices later this spring. Leonard subbed in for an injured Jones in Week 14 and started the Colts' Week 18 season finale against the Houston Texans.
Justin Walley & Hunter Wohler
These two 2025 draft picks – Walley in the third round, Wohler in the seventh round – came up quite a bit at the Biltmore despite neither playing a snap for the Colts as rookies.
Walley was in line to start at outside cornerback opposite Charvarius Ward Sr., while Wohler was working toward being Nick Cross' backup at safety during training camp (Cross has since signed with the Washington Commanders as a free agent). Walley sustained a torn ACL during a joint practice with the Baltimore Ravens, while Wohler sustained a Lisfranc (foot) injury in a preseason game. Both were placed on injured reserve in August, ending their seasons before they could begin.
But when I asked Irsay-Gordon about the outlook for the 2026 Colts, Wohler and Walley were among the first players she mentioned.
"It's heartbreaking for guys, especially their rookie year – the first few years for their development are so important, and you always feel bad for guys like that," Irsay-Gordon said. "They don't want to fall behind and miss the opportunity to develop. But I think they've taken it in stride, and they've actually – I don't know if they would have become friends or not, but I feel like they're like best buddies now because they were like the two 'gimpy gimpersens.'"