What Colts HC wants from Anthony Richardson Sr. after latest benching

The Indianapolis Colts naming Daniel Jones their Week 1 starting quarterback understandably left many outsiders wondering if 2023 first-round draft pick Anthony Richardson Sr. will ever take another meaningful in-game snap for the club. 

While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Colts head coach Shane Steichen indicated he and his staff haven't fully given up on Richardson.

"We're going to continue to develop [Richardson] in the meeting rooms, on the practice field, fundamentals, details," Steichen said, as shared by Stephen Holder of ESPN. "[I told him] still go through your process like you're going to be a starter."

Richardson's agent attracted attention when he said shortly after his client was benched in favor of Jones that the 23-year-old's "trust" level with the Colts was "at best, questionable right now." While it remains unclear if Richardson could request a trade before the upcoming campaign gets underway, it sounds like Steichen expects to have the signal-caller on the active roster for Indianapolis' regular-season opener against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 7. 

"I've had great conversations with him the last two days," Steichen added about Richardson. "...I talked to him [Wednesday] in the office, and he was great. He just said, 'Hey man, I'm going to continue to work,' and I said, 'You're one play away.' He said, 'You're right, I'm one play away.' So he's been great."

That's all well and good, but Mike Sando of The Athletic noted earlier in the week that "Steichen would lose credibility in the locker room if he declared Richardson the starter in the absence of any evidence that Richardson is ready to handle any aspect of the job." Such a take raises eyebrows considering last fall's benching of Richardson allegedly had at least something to do with the fact that he needed "to improve his game preparation and better understand the gravity of the job."

Jones went 3-13 over his final 16 starts with the New York Giants, which suggests he won't be a long-term answer for any organization at this stage of his career. That said, team insider James Boyd of The Athletic mentioned for an article published on Friday that "the Colts seem to have punted on Richardson’s development." 

Perhaps Richardson and the Colts agreeing to part ways sooner rather than later would be best for everybody involved.