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Anthony Richardson Demoted to Third String as Colts’ Former No. 4 Pick Faces Uncertain Future 1
Anthony Richardson’s grip on the Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback room has officially gotten even weaker, what started as a shaky training camp has now turned into a serious roster question for the former No. 4 overall pick. His offseason trade request already created uncertainty around his future. Now, his place on the depth chart is taking another hit.
Richardson entered the summer needing a strong camp to change the conversation. Instead, the opposite has happened. His inconsistency has followed him onto the practice field, while Daniel Jones has continued to look firmly established as the Colts QB1.
Anthony Richardson’s Indianapolis Colts Future Takes Another Hit
Indianapolis Colts, Anthony RichardsonIndianapolis Colts, Anthony Richardson
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. (5) throws Wednesday, June 10, 2026, during minicamp at Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis.
On August 8, 2026, NFL reporter Esidery reported on X that the Colts have demoted Richardson to third-string QB. The move comes after another uneven stretch of camp, with his struggles reportedly including poor accuracy, missed reads and problems handling snaps from center. For a player already fighting to remain relevant in Indianapolis, the latest development could be massive.
The Colts have now demoted Anthony Richardson to third-string quarterback.
Richardson has mightily regressed, and appears to be completely checked out after requesting an offseason trade.
The former No. 4 overall pick could now be a cut candidate before his third season begins. pic.twitter.com/c2lAcNZ7Zx
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) August 8, 2026
Richardson’s fall has been hard to ignore. The Colts selected him fourth overall in 2023 because of his rare athletic ability and cannon arm, however, three seasons later, the upside has never consistently translated into quarterback play. He has completed only 50% of his passes during his NFL career, and his development has repeatedly stalled because of accuracy and decision-making issues.
That was already a problem before this camp. Now, the competition has seemingly moved beyond Richardson. During Thursday’s practice, according to the Colts Star reporter Joel Erickson, Richardson completed only 3 of 12 passes while taking several sacks and throwing an interception. Riley Leonard, meanwhile, finished 10-of-15. The contrast was enough for the quarterback battle to draw another wave of attention.
Except Richardson’s latest showing has apparently pushed the Colts toward a different pecking order, with Jones entrenched at the top, Leonard now has a clearer path toward the backup role.
And that leaves Richardson staring at a far bigger problem. His offseason trade request reportedly failed to produce a meaningful deal, leaving Indianapolis with a difficult decision. The Colts can continue carrying a former top-five pick and hope something finally clicks.
For now, the third-string demotion makes one thing clear: Richardson is no longer being protected by his draft status. If his camp struggles continue, his future in Indianapolis could become one of the biggest roster decisions the Colts face before the regular season.