
The Indianapolis Colts are planning to hold a competition for their starting quarterback job between Anthony Richardson Sr. and Daniel Jones, but it sounds like the latter has already gotten a bit of a head start.
Richardson did not participate in mandatory minicamp this week due to soreness in his throwing shoulder, which was surgically repaired in 2023. That left all of the first-team reps to Jones, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler says the veteran took full advantage of the opportunity.
During a Saturday appearance on "SportsCenter," Fowler said he was told Jones looked "very sharp" during Indy's three-day minicamp.
"Daniel Jones, making his move a little bit in minicamp, taking those first-team reps with Anthony Richardson resting his shoulder," the reporter said. "Richardson plans to be back for training camp for that battle, but I was told Jones was a fast processor at the line of scrimmage, good chemistry with his receivers. He was quote 'very sharp' as it was told to me in minicamp as the guy."
Minicamp roundup on @SportsCenter
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) June 14, 2025
-J.J. McCarthy progress, #Vikings’ three-year plan
-Daniel Jones makes most of extra reps
-What’s next for McLaurin, Wilson, Sauce deals
-Browns QB workload
(With @SkubieMageza) pic.twitter.com/x0tYjz10ff
Jones signed a one-year, $14M contract with the Colts in March. Many people already believed he would beat out Richardson, who has struggled to remain healthy since Indianapolis drafted him with the fourth overall pick in 2023.
Richardson is reportedly dealing with aggravation in the same AC joint he injured during his rookie season. The belief is that he will be cleared for training camp after doctors told him he does not need another surgery.
The Giants moved on from Jones last year after he completed 63.3% of his passes for 2,070 yards with just eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in 10 games.
Richardson completed just 47.7% of his passes for 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 11 games last season.
Even if Richardson does make it back for training camp, his health will continue to be a question mark. The fact that Jones has already looked sharp with his new team does not bode well for Richardson's chances of winning the starting job.
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With Aaron Rodgers dealing with a left wrist injury, the Pittsburgh Steelers worked out veteran quarterbacks Jason Bean and Tanner Mordecai on Tuesday, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. The Steelers currently have three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster and zero on their practice squad. Backup Mason Rudolph, and third-stringer Will Howard will both move up a spot on the depth chart for at least a week, leaving the Steelers without a third option should either of them get injured. Bean, 26, signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Kansas in 2024. He did not make the 53-man roster, but stuck around on the practice squad for the entire season. He was waived during final roster cuts this year and did not draw practice squad interest from the Colts or any other team. Mordecai is also a 26-year-old who entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2024. Mordecai finished his college career at Wisconsin and signed with the 49ers last spring. He spent the season on San Francisco’s practice squad and was repeatedly cut and re-signed during training camp as the team balanced their other roster needs. He was waived due to injury a final time during roster cuts. The Steelers did not sign Bean or Mordecai, though that could be coming in the next few days as they continue to assess Rodgers’ wrist. They could also work out other available quarterbacks later this week.
Taylor Swift's emotional handwritten letter to Liam Payne is expected to draw significant attention when it goes up for auction next month. The note, sent in December 2017, is projected to sell for as much as $13,000 due to its deeply personal and historic nature. Swift wrote the message shortly before Payne took the stage at the Jingle Bell Ball in London, at a time when he was gaining traction as a solo artist after One Direction began its hiatus. According to the auctioneers, interest has already grown ahead of bidding. Taylor wrote: "Liam, long time no see! I'm so excited for you. You're crushing it out there. I'm obsessed with Bedroom Floor. It's so cool to see you from afar, I'm always cheering you on. Good luck tonight!" The Mirror reports that the letter showed up in an envelope labeled only "Liam," covered in stars. The envelope was wax-sealed with a "T," and on the back appeared "Nashville, Tennessee." Payne reportedly gave the letter to a friend shortly after receiving it. The sale of the note comes just over a year after Payne's death in October 2024. The singer died at age 31 after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina. According to the People, an autopsy later revealed polytrauma along with traces of alcohol, cocaine, and prescription antidepressants in his system. His sister, Ruth Gibbins, described ongoing grief in the months since his death. She said: "My brain is locked on your last minutes on this earth, the unaccounted minutes, the minutes I will never have the answers to, the minutes that changed everything." She also posted on Instagram : "I underestimated grief, woah, did I underestimate it. I am paralysed by it daily. I thought I had felt it before but I know the losses before you were just intense sadness, you are the loss of my life, the one person who l will miss at every single occasion in my life." Omega Auctions is expected to see much interest from collectors once it begins accepting bids for the item, since the letter is a rare personal exchange between two major pop figures. According to the source, the timing has added an emotional weight to the sale, aligning as it does with the anniversary of Payne's death.
Arsenal appear braced for a significant setback as star centre-back Gabriel Magalhães faces a potentially lengthy spell out through injury. The 27-year-old has been one of Mikel Arteta’s most indispensable players in recent seasons, forming the backbone of a defensive unit that has transformed the Gunners into consistent Premier League title challengers. His combination of aerial dominance, physicality and leadership, alongside his growing threat from attacking set pieces, has made him a crucial figure at both ends of the pitch. But Arsenal’s defensive stability is now under threat following Gabriel’s premature withdrawal during Brazil’s 2–0 victory over Senegal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend. Arsenal suffer Gabriel setback at crucial stage The centre-back was forced off just after the hour mark, clutching his right thigh, and was immediately released from the national team squad. His departure raised concerns within the Brazil camp and even more so among Arsenal supporters already anxious about their team’s growing injury list. According to The Athletic, further medical examinations are scheduled, but early indications suggest Gabriel may be facing up to two months on the sidelines. If confirmed, the defender would be ruled out until mid-January, missing a crucial run of fixtures during the congested winter period. A best-case scenario indicates a recovery time closer to four weeks, which could enable him to return just before Christmas, though Arsenal are said to be preparing for the longer prognosis. The timing could hardly be worse. Gabriel now joins a lengthy injury list at Arsenal, one that already included Martin Ødegaard, Viktor Gyökeres, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus prior to the international break. Mikel Arteta has worthy replacements in his squad Arteta, who has worked tirelessly to build depth and balance across the squad, is now facing the prospect of navigating multiple competitions without several of his most influential players. With the festive schedule approaching, Arsenal’s reliance on defensive pairing William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera will grow. The club also have the option of Piero Hincapie, who is a versatile defender and can play as a centre-back along with playing as a left-back. The club will hope that Gabriel’s injury is not as severe as feared, but with key matches in the Premier League and Champions League looming, Arteta may be forced to rethink his short-term tactical plans. Arsenal told what they need to do if they want to sign Antoine Semenyo in January
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