QB Anthony Richardson attends Colts workouts amid trade request

The Indianapolis Colts banked on quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. becoming the face of the franchise when they drafted him fourth overall out of Florida in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Richardson entered the NFL with a very limited college sample size, but his athleticism jumped off the screen. The Colts were stuck in a chronic game of quarterback roulette in the years after Andrew Luck abruptly retired in August 2019, so they were desperate to believe that Richardson would develop into the next Cam Newton. 

It’s important to remember that Richardson is still only 23 years old, but so far, he is not on a Cam Newton trajectory.

In his first three seasons in Indianapolis, Richardson only started 15 games. It’s an even smaller sample size than his time at Florida, but he threw for 2,400 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions on a dismal 50.6% completion. He lost the Colts’ QB1 job to Daniel Jones last offseason, made worse by a freak-accident orbital fracture suffered during pregame warmups last October.

All that led to the Colts granting Richardson permission to seek a trade, as ESPN’s Stephen Holder reported in February. Holder also reported over the weekend that the Colts declined to exercise Richardson’s fifth-year option.

Richardson is still on the Colts, however, and he may remain on the roster for the 2026 season.

“Colts QB Anthony Richardson reported today for voluntary offseason workouts after staying home the past two weeks, per source,” Holder posted on X on Monday. “With the Colts seemingly no closer to trading him, as he requested, and with no indication they’ll release him, he’s back for the time being.”

Richardson has no chance to regain his stature as Colts QB1, but there is a chance - even if small - that he could start Week 1, as Jones works back from a torn Achilles suffered last December. There is no quarterback competition in Indianapolis, though. Jones already beat out Richardson last year, and the Colts committed a hefty contract extension to Jones in March. 

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This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 12:06 PM.