By the numbers, Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson Sr. had relatively similar performances in the Colts' second preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. Jones was seven-of-11 for 101 yards and Richardson was six-of-11 for 73 yards. Neither threw a touchdown and neither completed a longer pass than 25 yards, but neither committed a turnover.
But numbers and stat sheets rarely – if ever – tell the full story.
Jones and Richardson can run an offense similarly, but are different quarterbacks and different people. They've had different things to learn and improve upon. For Richardson, it's staying on the football field and making routine plays on a regular basis. For Jones, it's finding a rhythm and executing plays deep downfield
And in Saturday's game, in which Jones played two drives and Richardson played three, both quarterbacks had the opportunity to show both their natural talent and how they adapt and perform in game situations.
"The operation, getting the completions, moving the ball up and down the field, taking what the defense gives you – I think both of them did some nice things," head coach Shane Steichen said postgame. "We didn't turn the ball over there at that position, which was good."
Jones, as planned, started and played the first few drives of Saturday's game, which would end up being the entire first quarter. The first drive he led went three-and-out, with two incompletions and a fumbled exchange, but he quickly rebounded on the next possession for an 11-play, 77-yard scoring drive that ended in a field goal.
"Obviously that first drive wasn't the cleanest there," Jones said. "A couple things to clean up, but felt like we got in a rhythm there in the second drive and executed down the field. Obviously, would have liked to score there, getting in the end zone, but felt like we had some good momentum there."
Deeper passes to tight end Tyler Warren and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. highlighted Jones' second drive, as he clearly grew more comfortable as the game went on.
"Just trying to show up every day and improve, grow in my understanding of the offense and make good decisions consistently," Jones said. "That consistent decision-making and throwing the ball accurately, I think that's a huge part of playing the position and something I've tried to do."
In that sense, Jones and Richardson are the exact same: they both want to be accurate and make good decisions, like any quarterback would. And in the quarter that Richardson played against the Packers, he showed that potential.
The biggest emphasis for Richardson over the last few years – but noticeably even more so this preseason – has been improving his ability to consistently complete short and intermediate passes. The deep ball is his calling card, but he knows he can't rely on that every time.
"The routine plays, that's really what I've struggled with throughout my career," Richardson said. "I just want to get better at that, because making a routine play and just moving the ball downfield, that helps you stay on the field, move the ball, get down in the red zone so you can guarantee some points and secure some points. So I just want to get better at that, and when the big plays do come I'll be able to hit them."
On the first drive Richardson led, he did just that; the longest completion in the 12- play, 90-yard drive was a 21-yard pass. The touchdown that came at the end of the drive was a three-yard rush from running back Tyler Goodson, and the rest of the drive was comprised of efficient, quick plays captained by Richardson.
"That's just me trying to execute within the offense and just do my job, and if a guy's popping open I gotta get the ball to him," Richardson said.
Arguably his most impressive throw of the day – a deep ball down the sidelines to wide receiver Anthony Gould – was called back due to an offensive offsides call on wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, and he was sacked on the next play to close out the first half.
"Felt like I had a smooth rhythm first drive," Richardson said. "Second drive, wish we put up more points down there, but felt good just being out there that second quarter, just moving the ball... making the routine plays, being out there moving the ball, managing the game, I felt good about that. But just trying to keep going and keep improving."
After Saturday's game, head coach Shane Steichen said he was "very close" to making a decision on who the Colts' starting quarterback will be come week one against the Miami Dolphins. And while both Jones and Richardson obviously have that on their minds, their bigger priorities are continuing to work on their individual games and improving however they can.
