Colts grant QB Anthony Richardson OK to seek trade, agent says
INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts have given quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr.. permission to seek a commerce, his agent advised ESPN on Thursday, the newest twist within the younger participant’s sophisticated profession.
Richardson misplaced a preseason place battle with veteran Daniel Jones earlier than final season, relegating him to the No. 2 spot. Now, with the Colts dedicated to attempt to re-sign Jones as their starter for the foreseeable future, Richardson faces an unsure path ahead in Indianapolis.
Giving agent Deiric Jackson the power to discover a commerce offers Richardson the potential of discovering a brand new begin after three tumultuous seasons in Indianapolis. The 2023 fourth total draft decide has began 15 video games for the Colts, throwing 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Injuries have damage him all through his profession, with Richardson lacking 13 video games after shoulder surgical procedure as a rookie in 2023 and 4 video games to a number of accidents in 2024.
Last season, Richardson sustained a fractured orbital bone in a freak pregame warmup incident. That damage left Richardson on injured reserve, the place he completed the season.
Richardson, who continues to be simply 23, had his imaginative and prescient impacted by the damage. But latest consultations with medical doctors point out his imaginative and prescient has been restored, Jackson mentioned. One physician famous his imaginative and prescient in a latest check to be 20/20 when utilizing each eyes.
Colts basic supervisor Chris Ballard on Tuesday mentioned the imaginative and prescient points have been “trending in the right direction” and that Richardson was “cleared to play.” But he didn’t point out the problems have been totally resolved.
The Colts are anticipated to transfer ahead this 12 months with Jones and 2025 draft decide Riley Leonard at 1 and a couple of, respectively, on their quarterback depth chart. Jones sustained a torn Achilles tendon in early December however is on schedule to return for the beginning of subsequent season, Ballard mentioned this week. Jones is a pending free agent, however Ballard mentioned Tuesday he stays hopeful the Colts can re-sign him to a brand new deal with out having to use the franchise tag.
Ballard mentioned “I still believe in Anthony” when requested concerning the participant’s future this week, but it surely has been clear for fairly a while that Richardson didn’t have a transparent function with the workforce in 2026. The Colts’ choice to bench him briefly in 2024 undermined their statements about their perception in him. And the choice to exit and signal Jones as a free agent final spring created further doubt about Richardson’s long-term viability with the franchise.
The choice to enable conversations with different groups was communicated throughout a gathering with Ballard and Richardson’s camp on Thursday. At that assembly, Ballard expressed a willingness to work with Richardson to discover a appropriate touchdown spot. That’s why the choice to enable Jackson to converse with different groups and discover a match works within the participant’s favor.
Richardson has one season remaining on his rookie contract offered until his 2027 fifth-year choice is exercised. He is due a $1.145 million and a $4.24 million roster bonus that’s due in August. The Colts would save $5.385 million in wage cap area with $5.43 million in useless cash if Richardson is traded earlier than June 1.
