Colts' Daniel Jones reflects on flaming out with Giants 

As of Monday afternoon, it certainly seemed that neither free-agency signing Daniel Jones nor 2023 first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson had grabbed any significant lead in the competition for the Indianapolis Colts' starting quarterback job. 

During a recent chat with ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Jones reflected on the final days of his New York Giants tenure that unceremoniously ended when he was released by the club last November. 

"Obviously disappointed as a competitor," Jones explained. "...I was drafted, had a great opportunity. Some great times, but obviously not enough there at the end. Grateful for the opportunity. Really excited about this, I think more than anything, excited for the next step."

A Giants regime that didn't make Jones the sixth overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft declined the fifth-year option attached to his rookie contract in the spring of 2022. He responded to that setback by guiding the Giants to a playoff berth and a road postseason win that resulted in the club signing him to a four-year contract that could have been worth up to $160M in March 2023. 

Jones never came close to matching the value of that deal with his on-the-field performances. In total, he went 3-13 over his final 16 starts with the Giants until he was benched and then released last November. He ended the campaign serving as an unused backup with the Minnesota Vikings.

According to Pro Football Reference, Jones finished the 2024 regular season ranked 29th in the NFL among qualified players with a 47.8 adjusted QBR, 35th with a 79.4 passer rating and 26th with a 63.3 percent completion percentage. Meanwhile, Richardson was 30th with a 47.4 adjusted QBR, 36th with a 61.6 passer rating and 36th with a 47.7 percent completion percentage. 

As of Monday afternoon, FanDuel Sportsbook had Richardson as a -350 betting favorite to start Indianapolis' Week 1 game against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 7. However, the Colts' unofficial depth chart that was released on Monday listed the club's QB1 as "Daniel Jones OR Anthony Richardson" heading into Indianapolis' preseason opener at the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night (7 p.m. ET start). 

"How the battle was explained to Jones, via coaches," Fowler added. "Whoever consistently shows up, makes good decisions and proves to be the guy coaches can trust will win the job. Jones is emphasizing when to be aggressive and when to pull out, and also getting out of bad plays."

In short, it sounds like neither Jones nor Richardson has a real hold on the starting job ahead of the exhibition matchup at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium.