Colts decline Anthony Richardson’s fifth-year choice forward of 2026

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The Indianapolis Colts have declined quarterback Anthony Richardson’s fifth-year choice.

Richardson, the staff’s No. 4 general decide of the 2023 NFL Draft , is headed totally free company after the 2026 season.

The transfer was one many seen as inevitable contemplating the tumultuous begin Richardson has needed to his NFL profession. The Florida product has handled a plethora of accidents and inconsistent play, ensuing within the Colts needing to look exterior the group for quarterback assist earlier than the beginning of the 2025 season.

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. warms up earlier than an NFL preseason sport in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Financial institution Stadium in Baltimore, Md., on Aug. 7, 2025. (Perry Knotts/Getty Photos)

Indy was excessive on Richardson after they took him with the fourth general decide of that 12 months’s draft, although there have been some who questioned if he was NFL prepared immediately.

That proved to not be the case, as Richardson break up time with veteran journeyman Gardner Minshew in 2023, whereas Joe Flacco ultimately took over for him in 2024.

Richardson would ultimately get his beginning spot again over Flacco in 2024, with the Colts saying he can be the staff’s starter the remainder of the way in which.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones runs off the sector after the sport in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., on Oct. 19, 2025. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Photos)

However he was benched previous to Flacco coming in after voluntarily taking himself out of a sport for one play, saying he "wanted a breather." The transfer was ridiculed by pundits and followers alike, and the Colts finally made an instance of it.

This previous season, the Colts signed Daniel Jones within the offseason, because the New York Giants launched him halfway by way of the 2024 marketing campaign, parting methods with their very own first-round decide who had a roller-coaster tenure with the franchise. Jones and Richardson have been pitted in an open quarterback battle at the beginning of coaching camp, and on Aug. 19, Jones was named the staff’s starter.

Richardson served as Jones’ backup to start the 12 months, however he was positioned on the injured reserve after a freak accident fractured an orbital bone in his eye throughout pregame warmups.

Richardson additionally handled a grade-three AC joint sprain that required an IR stint throughout his rookie season. It was initially presupposed to be a one-to-two-month restoration, however he wanted surgical procedure to restore the shoulder.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson warms up earlier than a sport in opposition to the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 7, 2025. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Photos)

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Total, Richardson heads into his fourth NFL season preventing for his subsequent contract, whether or not it’s with the Colts or elsewhere.

Jones re-signed with Indianapolis on a two-year deal value $88 million with $50 million assured, and rookie Riley Leonard stays on the depth chart as effectively.