02/26/26 04:50:00
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02/26 15:56 CST Colts give injury-plagued QB Anthony Richardson permission to
seek trade, AP source says
Colts give injury-plagued QB Anthony Richardson permission to seek trade, AP
source says
By MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) --- The Indianapolis Colts have given quarterback Anthony
Richardson permission to find a trade partner, a person with knowledge of the
decision told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The person requested anonymity because no formal announcement is expected.
Indy believed Richardson could become its long-time franchise quarterback when
it drafted him with the No. 4 overall selection in 2023, but nothing has gone
according to plan for the Colts --- or the injury-plagued former Florida star.
The news came two days after Colts general manager Chris Ballard told local
reporters he still believed Richardson could succeed in Indianapolis.
"I'm not going to say that," Ballard said when asked if Richardson needed a
fresh start with a new team. "Anthony's still young, he's still developing so
we'll see what the future holds."
It's not the first time Ballard has granted a player permission to look for a
deal. Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor also was given the designation
during a protracted contract battle in August 2023. Less than two months later,
Taylor agreed to a three-year extension worth $42 million with Indy.
This time could be different.
Richardson's progression has not gone according to plan since he won the
starting job as a rookie in training camp. He appeared in just four games and
finished only one in 2023 before undergoing season-ending surgery on his right
shoulder.
When Richardson returned in 2024, he continued to deal with injuries and
inconsistency.
He started all 11 games in which he appeared that season but missed one game
with a strained hip, two more with foot and back injuries and also was benched
for two additional games after pulling himself out of a midseason game because
he was "tired" after consecutive runs. He also finished that season with the
lowest completion rate of any regular NFL starter, 47.7%, while throwing eight
TD passes and 12 interceptions.
That prompted the Colts to sign free agent Daniel Jones last March.
Jones, the sixth overall draft pick of the New York Giants in 2019, beat out
Richardson for the starting job last August. And as Jones thrived through the
first half of the season, Richardson's injury problems continued.
He suffered another right shoulder injury in May and a dislocated finger on his
right hand in August before enduring a season-ending fractured orbital bone in
a freak pregame accident in October. The combination of Jones' strong play and
Richardson's continued injury issues limited him to just two games in which he
completed just 1 of 2 passes for 9 yards.
Jones could become a free agent again next month but is recovering from a torn
right Achilles tendon that forced him to miss Indy's final four games. Indy
lost all four and wound up missing the playoffs following an 8-2 start and is
now attempting to sign Jones to a new deal.
"We're expecting him back for training camp, but the way he works and who he
is, you know, it wouldn't surprise me if it's sooner," Ballard said, updating
Jones' status Tuesday. "He'll be back and he'll be ready to go, and I think
he'll have a good year. We've hard great discussions with both of them (Jones
and possible free agent receiver Alec Pierce), we'll continue to work this week
and see if we can get something done. It's been very positive."
But that only makes Richardson's future in Indianapolis more uncertain.
"He's a really good teammate, positive, wants to do the right thing," Ballard
said of Richardson. "So it's trending in the right direction, still got a ways
to go but he's cleared to play, and he is getting better, so we'll work from
there."
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