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Sources indicate the Indianapolis Colts have designated Daniel Jones as their primary quarterback, surpassing Anthony Richardson for the 2025 NFL campaign after excelling in the training camp period.
Following this development, Richardson, the fourth overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, will be reassigned to a secondary role once more. His time in the league has faced considerable difficulties, primarily due to recurring physical setbacks limiting his participation to only 15 matches across his initial pair of seasons, leading to inconsistent performance during his limited appearances. In the past year, Richardson experienced being replaced by seasoned player Joe Flacco during their Week 8 encounter with the Houston Texans, due to reported exhaustion.
Richardson’s career stands at a 50.6% pass completion rate, averaging approximately 159.4 passing yards each match, with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions recorded. Regrettably, these numbers have fallen short in overshadowing his potential for rushing plays and long-distance passing.
Measuring 6-foot-4 and weighing 244 pounds, Richardson demonstrated his athletic abilities by completing a 4.43-second 40-yard sprint at the NFL Scouting Combine, alongside a 40.5″ vertical jump. This earned him a Relative Athletic Score of 10.00 out of a possible 10.00 — the highest ranking among 916 quarterbacks from 1987 onward, based on Kent Lee Platte’s analytical framework. He has gathered a total of 635 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns throughout his 15 career starts.
The Colts secured Jones with a one-season contract valued at $14 million during the free agency period, with possible incentives reaching up to $17.7 million. The established base salary and potential incentives suggested that the team was inclined to offer Jones the opportunity to compete for the starting position. Typically, individuals recruited as potential backups do not command such substantial financial commitments. As it stands, the highest average annual compensation for a designated backup stands at $8 million, received by Marcus Mariota of the Washington Commanders, serving as backup to Jayden Daniels, recognized as the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, according to Over The Cap.
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Jones, who was selected as the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, had his contract terminated by the New York Giants in November at his request after he was relegated to a backup role in favor of Tommy DeVito. At the time of his departure, he was in the second year of a four-year contract extension with the franchise, valued at $160 million, while maintaining a 24-44-1 record as the team’s starting quarterback.
Jones has achieved a 53.1% pass completion rate over the first two preseason games, covering a distance of 245 yards, without any touchdowns or interceptions. As he enters 2025, he enjoys a relatively stable position compared to previous stages in his career, notably benefiting from improved receiver support compared to his tenure with the New York team. Players such as Michael Pittman Jr., A.D. Mitchell, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, along with versatile rookie tight end Tyler Warren, stand out among his primary receiving targets for the upcoming season.
NFL notable narratives
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Brian Robinson Jr., who has been the starting running back for the Commanders for the past three years, seems to be heading towards an exit, and the team’s actions on Monday night might explain why. With Robinson absent due to trade speculations, Washington strongly dominated against the Bengals defense, with both teams utilizing their primary players early in the game. The Commanders initiated a quick touchdown drive, covering 73 yards in four plays without attempting a pass. Running back Chris Rodriguez made a significant 40-yard run, setting up quarterback Jayden Daniels for a 14-yard touchdown run through and past several Bengals defenders. Then, Jacory Croskey-Merritt emerged into the spotlight. The seventh-round rookie from Arizona took a key role in Washington’s second drive, accumulating 32 rushing yards as the Commanders rapidly scored their second touchdown. Croskey-Merritt finished the drive with a 27-yard touchdown run.
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The Browns announced Joe Flacco will be their starting quarterback for Week 1: Cleveland’s team made public on Monday the decision to have Joe Flacco lead as the quarterback for the first week’s game against the Bengals, a move widely predicted and now confirmed. Still, the Browns’ quarterback lineup is subject to much discussion, with Kenny Pickett yet to play during the preseason games due to an injury, rookie Shedeur Sanders dealing with an oblique injury, and rookie Dillon Gabriel showing promise during his recent debut. With Flacco set to gain playtime during the preseason finale, chances for the other three quarterbacks to prove themselves will be scarce. What are the likely outcomes for the squad?
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Matthew Stafford is back at practice with the Rams: Fans and players can feel reassured. Matthew Stafford has resumed practicing with the Los Angeles Rams following a recovery from a back disk issue, actively engaging in the team’s drills. Coach Sean McVay noted Stafford’s positive progress but emphasized caution by assessing his condition daily and weekly. McVay described the situation as constantly changing, stating that while Stafford’s return to practice was “great,” the team is closely monitoring his response during the day and into Tuesday.
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The Browns sign Isaiah Bond, put him through lie detector test: It has been reported that Browns have contracted wide receiver Isaiah Bond on a three-year deal worth $3 million on Monday, after he was cleared from charges pertaining to a sexual assault investigation. Bond, aged 21, was projected as a pick for the mid-rounds in the 2025 NFL Draft, but remained undrafted following his arrest roughly two weeks prior to the Draft. This past Thursday, a Texas grand jury returned a “no-bill” verdict for Bond, implying lack of sufficient evidence for indictment. Browns’ General Manager Andrew Berry stated that the team, as part of the due diligence process, put Bond through an independent polygraph examination.
NFL squad updates
AFC East: Buffalo Bills | Miami Dolphins | New England Patriots | New York Jets
AFC North: Baltimore Ravens | Cincinnati Bengals | Cleveland Browns | Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC South: Houston Texans | Indianapolis Colts | Jacksonville Jaguars | Tennessee Titans
AFC West: Denver Broncos | Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders | Los Angeles Chargers
NFC East: Dallas Cowboys | New York Giants | Philadelphia Eagles | Washington Commanders
NFC North: Chicago Bears | Detroit Lions | Green Bay Packers | Minnesota Vikings
NFC South: Atlanta Falcons | Carolina Panthers | New Orleans Saints | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals | Los Angeles Rams | San Francisco 49ers | Seattle Seahawks
NFL preseason live updates
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