COLTS NEWS
SHANE STEICHEN NAMES DANIEL JONES COLTS’ STARTING QUARTERBACK
Colts head coach Shane Steichen on Tuesday named Daniel Jones his team’s starting quarterback.
“He’s our starting quarterback for the season,” Steichen said. “I don’t want to have a quick leash on that. I feel confident in his abilities.”
Jones emerges from a preseason competition with Anthony Richardson Sr. to take command of the Colts’ offense with less than three weeks left until Sept. 7’s season opener against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium. Jones and Richardson had previously split reps with the Colts’ first-team offense in practice and two preseason games; Jones will now proceed forward in practice with the Colts’ starters.
“When they both came in, I made it very clear that this is going to be a battle, and they’re going to compete for the job,” Steichen said after Saturday’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. “And like I said, I’m going to make the decision I feel is best for the football team.”
Over 46 snaps between the Colts’ preseason games against the Baltimore Ravens and Packers, Jones completed 17 of 32 passes for 245 yards (7.7 yards/attempt). He did not throw for a touchdown nor did he turn the ball over, and Jones was sacked just once on 34 dropbacks.
Steichen has said since the spring a major determining factor in the Colts’ quarterback competition is consistency, which encompasses more than what can be seen in a box score.
“I think it’s everything, right?” Steichen said Saturday. “The operation, the communication in the huddle, the checks, getting guys on the same page. The consistency of all that, obviously, is going to play a big factor in this.”
In his career, Jones has played in 70 games (69 starts) and completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 14,582 yards with 70 touchdowns, 47 interceptions and 15 rushing touchdowns. The No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft was released by the New York Giants last season and caught on with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad down the stretch of 2024.
Jones also won a playoff game in 2022 – he completed 24 of 35 passes for 301 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Giants’ 31-24 Wild Card win over the Vikings – and, that year, he had the lowest interception rate (1.1 percent of his 472 passes) in the NFL.
“Daniel does a nice job,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said on Monday when asked about Jones. “First off, he is a veteran quarterback who’s played a lot of football. And the more football you play, the more you see, the more experience you have of dealing with problems, problem solving on the field, handling different situations.
“… I would say the experience that he has has been something that’s been valuable for him to be able to manage all those situations, which he’s done well.”
AGENT SAYS RICHARDSON’S FUTURE WITH COLTS UNCERTAIN
Anthony Richardson’s agent, Deiric Jackson, said he’s unsure of the quarterback’s future in Indianapolis after the Colts named Daniel Jones as their starter for the 2025 season, according to ESPN’s Stephen Holder.
“We have a lot to discuss,” Jackson said about future discussions with the Colts.
While Jackson stopped short of demanding a trade, the agent hinted that the relationship between Richardson and the Colts may be strained.
“Trust is a big factor, and that is, at best, questionable right now,” Jackson said. “Anthony came back and made the improvements in the areas he needed to improve. And by all accounts, he had a great camp.”
Richardson said Tuesday he respects coach Shane Steichen’s decision to go with Jones.
The 2023 No. 4 pick is having a roller-coaster start to his NFL career. Indianapolis benched the oft-injured passer for two games last season, with Steichen saying he wanted the 23-year-old signal-caller more invested.
The Colts lost two games with Joe Flacco under center in 2024 before turning to Richardson again.
“When they needed a big play last year, whose hands did they put the ball in? Anthony’s,” Jackson said.
Richardson finished the 2024 season with 11 appearances, completing 47.7% of his passes for 1,814 yards and eight touchdowns against 12 interceptions.
Indianapolis signed Jones to a one-year contract this offseason and held a QB1 competition at training camp. Richardson and Jones each started one preseason game.
COLTS RELEASE UNOFFICIAL DEPTH CHART FOR PRESEASON WEEK 3 GAME VS. CINCINNATI BENGALS
Head coach Shane Steichen said on Tuesday that no starters will play against the Bengals. Quarterbacks Riley Leonard and Jason Bean will play. Steichen named Daniel Jones the team’s starter on Tuesday as well.
WR: Michael Pittman Jr., Ashton Dulin, Laquon Treadwell, Ajou Ajou, Tyler Kahmann
LT: Bernhard Raimann, Marshall Foerner, Marcellus Johnson
LG: Quenton Nelson, Josh Sills, Mose Vavao
C: Tanor Bortolini, Danny Pinter, Wesley French
RG: Matt Goncalves, Dalton Tucker
RT: Braden Smith, Jalen Travis, Luke Tenuta
TE: Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox, Drew Ogletree, Will Mallory, Jelani Woods, Sean McKeon, Maximilian Mang
WR: Josh Downs, Anthony Gould, Coleman Owen
WR: Alec Pierce, Adonai Mitchell, Blayne Taylor, Landon Parker
QB: Daniel Jones, Anthony Richardson Sr., Riley Leonard, Jason Bean
RB: Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Goodson, DJ Giddens, Khalil Herbert, Ulysses Bentley IV, Nate Noel, Nay’Quan Wright
Pierce (groin) and Downs (hamstring) did not play in the Colts’ second preseason game against the Green Bay Packers after sustaining their respective injuries during training camp practices.
DEFENSE
DE: Kwity Paye, Tyquan Lewis, JT Tuimoloau, Desmond Little, Marcus Haynes
DT: DeForest Buckner, Neville Gallimore, Adetomiwa Adebawore, Devtona Davis
NT: Grover Stewart, Eric Johnson II, Tim Smith, Josh Tupou
DE: Laiatu Latu, Samson Ebukam, Durell Nchami, Isaiah Land
WLB: Cameron McGrone, Jaylon Carlies, Austin Ajiake, Segun Olubi, Solomon DeShields
MLB: Zaire Franklin, Joe Bachie, Jake Chaney, Joseph Vaughn
CB: Charvarius Ward, JuJu Brents, Samuel Womack III
FS: Camryn Bynum, Rodney Thomas II, Trey Washington
SS: Nick Cross, Daniel Scott
N: Kenny Moore II, Alex Johnson, Ladarius Tennison, Chris Lammons
CB: Xavien Howard, Jaylon Jones, Johnathan Edwards, Duke Shelley, B.J. Mayes
The Colts signed the eight-year veteran Howard on Monday.
Brents and Jones have both been held out of training camp practices recently due to hamstring injuries, and Moore has missed the last few practices with a knee injury.
Wohler sustained a foot injury in the Colts’ game against the Packers and was placed on injured reserve, and will be out for the season.
SPECIALISTS
P: Rigoberto Sanchez
PK: Spencer Shrader, Maddux Trujillo
H: Rigoberto Sanchez
LS: Luke Rhodes
KR: Anthony Gould, Ashton Dulin, Tyler Goodson
PR: Anthony Gould, Josh Downs, Coleman Owen
TITANS’ SIMMONS SAYS HIS SHOVE OF WARD WAS SIMPLY FLARED TEMPERS AND BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons defended shoving the Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cameron Ward at the end of practice Monday and accused outsiders of blowing up tempers flaring at a hot training camp practice.
The No. 1 overall draft pick, wearing a red non-contact jersey, was celebrating a touchdown throw in a red-zone drill when he put a hand on Simmons, who reacted by shoving Ward. Simmons was escorted off the practice field, not talking to reporters until the end of Tuesday’s practice.
“At the end of the day, you know can’t touch a quarterback,” Simmons said. “We at a joint practice and somebody touch our quarterback, trust me I’m going to be the first one in. So I respect the (expletive) out of the offense for having … our quarterback back.”
Simmons said it was all left on the field and that he would take only football questions. Ward is scheduled to talk after Wednesday’s practice.
Titans coach Brian Callahan said assistant coaches are asked to take a player off the field if tempers get hot and cool them down. Practice ended two plays later, and Callahan said his conversations with Simmons and Ward were between them.
“It was a training camp push and shove and a little bit of loud barking, and that was pretty much it for me,” Callahan said. “It’s late August, and we’re ready to go play some real football.”
NOSE TACKLE KHALEN SAUNDERS FEELS ALMOST INSTANTANEOUS JOY FOLLOWING TRADE TO JAGUARS
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Khalen Saunders was playing Fortnite with friends at home Sunday evening when New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore called to deliver the trade news.
“Where to?” Saunders replied.
Jacksonville.
“The (team) we just played?” Saunders added. “It was a surprise.”
The postgame deal sent Saunders, a two-time Super Bowl champion nose tackle with Kansas City, to the Jaguars in exchange for backup center Luke Fortner. The trade had been in the works for days, long before the teams played to a 17-all tie in the Superdome on Sunday. Jacksonville had been looking to strengthen its defensive front while New Orleans was in the market for offensive line depth.
Now both players are getting a fresh start with a much better chance of making an opening-day roster.
“It was almost instantaneous the joy that came in,” Saunders said. “It’s fast moving, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Saunders was one of three defensive additions for the Jaguars on Tuesday. Defensive tackles Arik Armstead (back) and Maason Smith (calf) practiced with the team for the first time since training camp opened.
“Both guys have done everything they can in order to get on the grass,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said. “To see them out there is a great sign. … Both guys have done nothing but worked their tails off to get back. Pleased about that progress for sure.”
Armstead, Smith and Saunders are expected to play in Jacksonville’s preseason finale at Miami on Saturday, although it likely hinges on how much work they get during a joint practice with the Dolphins on Thursday.
Coen already has a good feeling about what to expect from the 324-pound run-stopper, having watched Saunders twice last season while he was offensive coordinator in Tampa Bay.
“A guy that … I’ve got respect for as a vet that’s played a lot of meaningful down in this league, has won Super Bowls, has been on teams that know how to win and there’s no question he can help up in the middle there at times,” Coen said.
“He’s hard to double-team and move in there at times and also has some ability to kind of redirect and has some initial (quickness), so I do believe he’ll help add some meaningful competition and depth in that room.”
Saunders started 27 games for the Saints over the last two seasons after a four-year stint in Kansas City. He became expendable after the Saints switched to a 3-4 defense under coordinator Brandon Staley and signed free agent Davon Godchaux from New England.
Fortner, a third-round draft pick from Kentucky in 2022, started 34 games for Jacksonville during his first two seasons. But he was benched in favor of veteran Mitch Morse last year and was considered a long shot to make Jacksonville’s roster behind Robert Hainsey and rookie Jonah Monheim.
Saunders, a third-round draft pick in 2019, has 181 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks in 68 career games. He’s expected to slot in as a backup to DaVon Hamilton on Jacksonville’s depth chart.
Saunders arrived in town midday Monday, meet his new teammates and then spent several hours with coaches learning the defense.
“He brings a lot of experience, a lot of good depth and we’re lucky to have him,” defensive end Josh Hines-Allen said.
FIELDS ON JETS’ PASSING GAME: ‘WE’RE FINE WITH 8-YARD COMPLETIONS’ AND TIRING DEFENSES WITH RUNS
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets’ passing game has been short on long passes this summer.
The lack of deep throws has some fans anxious, wondering if Justin Fields and the offense will be able to stretch the field against opponents this season when needed. Well, relying on the run and mixing in short passes might be an effective alternative.
“I mean, yeah, we’re fine with taking 8-yard completions every play, if I’m being honest with you,” Fields said Tuesday before practice.
Fields and the starters on offense played just two series in the Jets’ 31-12 preseason loss to the Giants last Saturday night — and it was hardly an eye-popping display through the air.
Fields, signed to a two-year, $40 million deal in the offseason to replace Aaron Rodgers as the Jets’ starting quarterback, went just 1-for-5 passing for 4 yards. Meanwhile, New York ran the ball 13 times for 55 yards — with Fields getting 5 yards on his lone run, which was originally called a pass play.
Boring, sure. And coach Aaron Glenn said the offense, in general, wasn’t good enough. But Fields insists there’s a method to methodically testing teams on the ground.
“Of course you want explosives, but like I said Saturday, we’re not going to force the ball down the field,” Fields said. “If they want to get depth on the second level, we’re fine with taking the 8-, 10-yard completion and taking time off the clock and just driving down the field and having 10-, 15-play drives. It gets the defense tired.”
One of the Jets’ strengths is their running game with the trio of Breece Hall, Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis in the backfield. They’ve all looked solid throughout training camp and the two preseason games, although Davis sat out against the Giants with an ankle issue.
The ground-and-pound approach was on full display Saturday night, when the Jets opened their second possession by running on 10 straight plays before an incompletion by Fields on third-and-2 to Garrett Wilson. The 11-play drive was capped by a 38-yard field goal by Nick Folk.
“It might not be as exciting on the offensive side of the ball for the fans,” Fields said. “Like I said, it’s efficient ball. It’s also getting the defense tired and, you know, just driving down the field like that.”
Left guard John Simpson welcomes it, saying he and his fellow offensive linemen light up a little more when they know it’s going to be a run play.
“The identity of this team is physicality,” Simpson said. “No matter what play it is — run, pass, whatever — I think coach does a good job at telling us that that’s what he wants. He wants it to be, whatever it is, to be physical.
“And if that means we’ve got to run the ball 12 times, 15 times in a row, that’s what it is, so I’m ready for it.”
Just as he was Saturday night when he and his O-linemates heard the play calls for almost the entire second series.
“Let’s go, yeah, I love it,” Simpson said with a laugh. “I just want to be as physical as I can and just dominate. It don’t really matter to me what the play is, but when I do hear a run call, I do get a little bit excited.”
Fields would also appear to be a fine fit for a run-first system in new coordinator Tanner Engstrand’s offense. He has terrific scrambling ability, with a knack for turning what seems to be a broken play into a positive with his legs.
In his second NFL season with Chicago in 2022, Fields ran for a career-best 1,143 yards and eight scores. Simpson is used to playing with a quarterback who can run, having been teammates with Lamar Jackson in Baltimore during the 2023 season.
“It’s kind of not too different for me,” Simpson said. “At the end of the day, it’s just football. He’ll find an open hole if he’s got to get loose and run. It’s just us five (O-linemen) doing our job, protecting. And then if he’s got to get loose, he’ll get loose.”
NFL STARS UNDER PRESSURE: WHICH PLAYERS HAVE THE MOST TO PROVE THIS SEASON?
The pressure is on several big-name NFL players as they enter a season that will go a long way toward determining their playing futures — and possibly that of their teams.
New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields is getting another chance as a starter on his third team in five years, this time looking to help end the league’s longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons.
Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence got a huge payday before last season — a five-year, $275 million contract extension, including $142 million guaranteed — but struggled with injury and inconsistency as the Jaguars missed the postseason.
Young quarterbacks such as Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy, Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson, Chicago’s Caleb Williams and Carolina’s Bryce Young also are in the spotlight. But it’s not only the signal-callers.
Buffalo running back James Cook, San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey, Dallas wide receiver George Pickens, Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts and New England defensive lineman Milton Williams are among a handful of NFL stars with something to prove because of injuries, mediocre play or needing to justify big contracts.
James Cook, RB, Bills
The star running back ended his contract standoff last Wednesday by signing a four-year deal that will pay him $48 million — including $30 million in guaranteed money. Cook tied for the NFL lead with 16 touchdown runs last season, a breakout year for the 2022 second-rounder out of Georgia. He now must live up to that lofty contract while helping Josh Allen make Buffalo’s offense roll.
Justin Fields, QB, Jets
Fields was a first-rounder in 2021 by Chicago, which hoped he was the Bears’ franchise quarterback. He was gone after just three seasons, sent to Pittsburgh — where he went 4-2 for an injured Russell Wilson before heading to the bench for the veteran. He now is replacing Aaron Rodgers with the Jets, who signed him to a two-year, $40 million deal, installed him as their starter and believe his dual-threat playmaking ability is a perfect fit for their new-look offense.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft went to the Pro Bowl as an alternate in his second season with a breakout year, but he hasn’t been able to match that success. Lawrence played in only 10 games last season because of a shoulder injury and then a concussion. He is playing for a new coach in Liam Coen and is still considered a potential franchise quarterback. Two-way rookie sensation Travis Hunter should help, but Lawrence’s health and consistency are the key to the Jaguars’ success on offense.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers
The 2023 AP Offensive Player of the Year has proven himself before, bouncing back from injuries to become a dominant playmaker. McCaffrey will need to do it again for the 49ers, and this time is coming off a season marred by knee and Achilles tendon issues. And, he’s 29, an age when many running backs start to decline. McCaffrey has looked like himself during the summer and another rebound season could help the 49ers get back to the playoffs.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, Vikings
The 10th overall pick in last year’s draft very well could’ve been Minnesota’s starter as a rookie if not for a knee injury in the preseason opener that sidelined him the rest of the season. Sam Darnold stepped in and had the best year of his career. But the Vikings decided to not re-sign Darnold, who signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with Seattle. Minnesota has turned its offense over to McCarthy, who needs to reward their faith in him by being a capable leader for a playoff-ready team.
George Pickens, WR, Cowboys
In May, Dallas acquired the 2022 second-round pick from Pittsburgh to be its No. 2 receiver and complement CeeDee Lamb as Dak Prescott’s primary options in the passing game. Pickens was a playmaker for the Steelers, but not enough — with just one season of 60 or more catches and 1,000 yards receiving, both in 2023. His frustration over a lack of targets, penalties and sideline outbursts also helped make his stay in Pittsburgh short.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons
Pitts came to Atlanta as the highest-selected tight end in NFL draft history at No. 4 overall. His mix of speed, size and physicality had the Falcons daydreaming of mismatches all over the field. Instead, Pitts has failed to be that consistently dominant force. He has topped 60 catches and 1,000 yards receiving just once, both in his first season. Pitts is in the final year of his rookie contract.
Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers
No longer just a feel-good NFL story after he was “Mr. Irrelevant” as the final pick in the 2022 draft, Purdy already has played in a Super Bowl. Some critics have attributed Purdy’s success to him simply being a product of coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The 49ers see him as much more, though, and rewarded him with a five-year $265 million contract extension in May. After his numbers dropped a bit in 2024, getting McCaffrey and eventually wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk back from injuries should help Purdy.
Anthony Richardson, QB, Colts
Richardson has been an enigma on the field since being selected fourth overall in 2023. He played in only four games as a rookie because of a sprained shoulder and started just 11 last season while finishing with an NFL-worst 47.7% completion rate. Richardson missed four games with injuries and also was benched for two in favor of Joe Flacco in the middle of the season after asking out of a game because of fatigue. Richardson now will have to overcome yet another setback: He’ll start this season as a backup after coach Shane Steichen declared Daniel Jones his starter.
Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Giants
The pass rusher’s name came up in trade rumors during the offseason, particularly after the Giants drafted Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the third overall pick. New York insisted it wanted to keep Thibodeaux — the Giants picked up his fifth-year contract option — to complement a solid pass rush rotation. Thibodeaux, a first-rounder in 2022, is coming off a season with just 5 1/2 sacks but insists his goal entering every year is to set the single-season record.
Caleb Williams, QB, Bears
The first overall pick last year is entering only his second NFL season, but all eyes have been on him in Chicago with new coach Ben Johnson taking over. Williams put up solid numbers as a rookie with 3,541 yards passing, 20 TDs and only six interceptions. But he took way too many sacks — a league-high 68. Some of the blame was on the offensive line, which has been upgraded, but Williams also routinely held the ball too long.
Milton Williams, DL, Patriots
Williams was a third-round pick by Philadelphia in 2021 and worked his way into being a force for the Eagles on their vaunted D-line. After Fletcher Cox retired following the 2023 season, Williams saw increased snaps and capped a breakout year by taking down Patrick Mahomes twice — including a strip-sack and fumble recovery in the Super Bowl win over Kansas City. He signed a four-year, $104 million contract with New England in the offseason, making his annual salary the highest ever for a Patriots player.
Bryce Young, QB, Panthers
The No. 1 overall pick in 2023 had the expected up-and-down struggles of a rookie QB but was benched last season in favor of Andy Dalton after just two games. Young regained the starting role after five games when Dalton went down with an injury and finished on a positive note with seven TD passes and no INTs with three rushing scores in his final three games, including two overtime wins. He needs to build on that to erase any doubt the Panthers have about their long-term plans at quarterback.
