WESTFIELD, Ind. – Both Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson will "play a good amount" in the Colts' preseason opener on Thursday against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, head coach Shane Steichen said Sunday.
Steichen, as of Sunday morning, had not informed his quarterbacks who will start. But whoever does not start will likely see significant time in the Colts' second preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, which kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Aug. 16 at Lucas Oil Stadium.
"One will play a good amount this game and the other will play a good amount next game," Steichen said.
The Colts, throughout training camp, have been intentional about not just getting an even 50/50 split of first-team reps between Jones and Richardson, but getting them equal first-team reps in certain situations (i.e. red zone, third down, two minute). That's harder to do within a single game, so splitting snap shares between two preseason contests makes sense here.
Steichen has consistently said there's no timetable on naming a starting quarterback, and the Colts will let their process play out as they evaluate Jones and Richardson. The next three weeks will feature several key evaluation points, though, with a joint practice with the Ravens (Aug. 5), a preseason game against the Ravens (Aug. 7), a joint practice with the Green Bay Packers (Aug. 14), a preseason game against the Packers (Aug. 16) and a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals (Aug. 23) all on the calendar ahead.
Steichen, though, didn't want that string of high-profile days to minimize everything else that'll go into deciding which guy starts Sept. 7 against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium.
"I think it all matters, it all counts," Steichen said. "Every rep matters, every walkthrough matters, every meeting matters. It all matters. Everything's being evaluated."
News & Notes
- Running back Salvon Ahmed sustained a serious leg injury during an 11-on-11 period when safety Trey Washington tackled him from behind near the end zone. The injury happened during a developmental period of practice – Steichen has implemented those for third/fourth stringers to get some work – in which there was live tackling.
- Steichen opened his press conference expressing his thoughts and prayers for Ahmed, who spent four seasons with the Miami Dolphins (2020-2023) before joining the Colts' practice squad last year.
- "We don't encourage hip drop tackles," Steichen said. "I know Trey's down in the dumps and I don't think he's trying to do that. We're just trying to create an edge is what I'm trying to get done, especially in developmental, those guys are going to have to tackle come preseason."
- Quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. was the first player to Ahmed's side, and running back Jonathan Taylor stayed with Ahmed until he was loaded on to a cart to leave the practice field. Safety Cam Bynum brought the entire team together to pray over Ahmed.
- "I thought it was tremendous, the team camaraderie that our guys have and Cam praying over him with the whole team there," Steichen said. "Just shows the tightness of this group as it comes together. It's a new year with new faces, and guys coming together, I think it shows a lot, just the closeness of this team right now."
- Cornerback Charvarius Ward has some tightness in his leg and did not participate in practice.
- Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (groin) also did not practice.
- The Colts' defensive line had a remarkably disruptive day. Defensive ends Samson Ebukam, Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu all had "sacks" (they can't bring the quarterback to the ground, but got to the QB), as did defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and safety Cam Bynum, among others. Bynum also broke up a pass in 11-on-11.
- Cornerback Justin Walley played tight coverage on wide receiver Alec Pierce on a lofted pass to the end zone, forcing an incompletion in 11-on-11.
- Cornerback Kenny Moore II's tight coverage forced an incompletion in seven-on-seven.
- Quarterback Daniel Jones completed several passes in 11-on-11 and seven-on-seven, highlighted by a back shoulder deep ball to wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and a pretty deep ball over the middle to wide receiver Anthony Gould.
- Quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. also had an efficient day, ripping passes to wide receivers Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Ashton Dulin and Laquon Treadwell; he threw a touchdown after buying time in the pocket to running back Ulysses Bentley IV.
- Center Tanor Bortolini helped spring a screen to tight end Mo Alie-Cox by straining and reaching on a block in space.
