With 14 training camp practices and two preseason games now in the books, Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Saturday he is "very close" to deciding who his team's starting quarterback will be.

"I've seen three weeks of it," Steichen said, "so I'd like to have a decision here shortly."

Daniel Jones started Saturday's preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Lucas Oil Stadium and played 15 snaps over two drives before giving way to Anthony Richardson Sr., who played 24 snaps to close out the first half. Jones completed seven of 11 passes for 101 yards, while Richardson went six of 11 for 73 yards – though he had a spectacular 38-yard completion to wide receiver Anthony Gould negated due to an offsides penalty on wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

Ultimately, Saturday's game is one data point in a huge pile of things Steichen and the Colts have evaluated with Jones and Richardson. A lot of those data points are easy to see – completions in practice and performance in certain situations, like red zone and two-minute – and a lot of it is less obvious to the naked eye.

"It's everything — the operation, the communication in the huddle, the checks, getting guys on the same page," Steichen said. "The consistently of all that, obviously, is going to play a big factor in this."

Jones wound up playing 46 preseason snaps over these first two games, 15 more than Richardson, who exited the Colts' preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens when he sustained a dislocated pinkie while being sacked. Throughout those game snaps, as well as all the reps he took in practice, Jones felt he improved in his understanding of the Colts' offense and ability to make good decisions within it.

"That's something I've always tried to do and will continue to work on," Jones said. "But I think consistent decision-making and throwing the ball accurately, I think that's a huge part of playing the position, something I've tried to do."

Richardson said he feels more relaxed and confident operating the Colts' offense. While he feels like he's improved, he also acknowledged the Colts' QB1 decision is out of his hands – which has led him to not focus on what decision Steichen will make, or when he'll make it, this summer.

"To be real, I haven't really been thinking about it too, too much," Richardson said. "I've just been trying to make sure I'm at the best of my ability so when Week 1 does pop up and show up. And if I am the guy, if I'm not the guy, I'm ready, ready for anything that comes to me.

"They'll make a decision whenever they do. I'm not too worried about it honestly. I'm just trying to make sure I'm at the best of my ability for the season – not just for training camp or preseason, or anything like that."

Just three weeks separate the Colts from their season opener against the Miami Dolphins. The Colts still have one more preseason game ahead – next Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium – but Steichen has now twice in the last three days intimated a decision on his starting quarterback is coming sooner rather than later.

Steichen will discuss his options with Owner and CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon and general manager Chris Ballard, but the final say on the Colts' starting quarterback rests with the third-year head coach. And Steichen, as of Saturday, not only is close to that decision – he's confident in the direction of the Colts once he makes it.

"I feel pretty clean when I make that decision," Steichen said. "When I make this decision, I'm going to do what I feel is best for this football team."