The Indianapolis Colts have named their starting quarterback for their Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen told reporters on Tuesday that Daniel Jones will be under center to start the season over Anthony Richardson.
“He’s the starting quarterback for the season,” Steichen told reporters. “I don’t want to have a short leash on that.”
Jones is looking for a fresh start after his New York Giants exit last year, and he’ll get the chance to prove himself early.
Jones, who is 28 and heading into his seventh NFL campaign, had a year to forget in 2024. He started 10 games in New York before the Giants benched him for Tommy DeVito, and he later requested and was granted his release.
He signed with the Minnesota Vikings to close out the season but didn’t see much action serving as Sam Darnold’s backup. Spending the second half of the year on the Vikings roster gave him a chance to grow under a coach known for developing quarterbacks in Kevin O’Connell.
Jones, a somewhat hot commodity on the free agency market last offseason, ultimately decided to sign with Indianapolis and compete with Richardson for the starting job.
While there was little indication of who had the upper hand in the Colts’ quarterback battle during training camp, one NFL executive told The Athletic’s Mike Sando that Richardson starting over Jones was “a pipe dream.”
While Jones hasn’t broken out into stardom yet, he’s had his moments through his first six seasons. The Colts are trusting him under center to start the season, and he’ll look to make the most of his opportunity.