Indianapolis, IN
Colts’ Anthony Richardson Deemed One of the Best Backup QBs in NFL
The Indianapolis Colts have a full quarterback room for the foreseeable future after Anthony Richardson Sr.’s time spent on the trade block failed to land any suitors during the 2026 NFL Draft.
While Richardson has since returned to the team and just wrapped up OTAs, his trade request has not yet been rescinded, so there’s technically a chance he could be traded for anytime before the mid-season trade deadline.
Richardson and second-year quarterback and 2025 sixth-round pick Riley Leonard will continue battling it out for the backup role under starter Daniel Jones, who is working back from his Achilles rehab.
With Jones out for the majority of team work (i.e., 11-on-11 periods) for the summer, with a fully healthy projection scheduled for training camp, valuable reps will be provided to Richardson and Leonard as they work on their respective professional trajectories.
Richardson is entering the final year of his rookie contract, a pricey $10.8M cap hit for a backup, whereas Leonard is entering the second year of his. While the two are in incredibly different situations entering 2026, both have reasons to earn the QB2 role directly under Daniel Jones.
Leonard is viewed as the better fit for this version of head coach Shane Steichen’s offense with Jones at the helm, and the subsequent backup of the future, whereas Richardson remains the unrefined, oft-injured project that could be fun to fix.
Ranking Anthony Richardson Sr. Among Backup QBs
Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano recently dropped his ranking of backup quarterbacks across the league, and ultimately put Richardson in his top 10 (at No. 10).
“Yes, Richardson has struggled throughout his career and has been unable to stay available. He had a golden opportunity last year when Daniel Jones ruptured his Achilles, but he wasn’t around due to a freak accident with an elastic exercise band,” Manzano wrote.
“Still, I can’t get over how dominant Richardson was in the first month of his rookie season in 2023. There were shades of Cam Newton and Josh Allen with his arm strength and massive 6’4″, 244-pound frame. In a spot start or in relief, Richardson’s game could give teams plenty of fits—that’s if he’s available. There’s also a possibility that the Colts trade or cut Richardson, who has 15 career starts, before the end of training camp.”
Anthony Richardson has 2,400 passing yards, 11 passing touchdowns, and 13 interceptions on an abysmal 50.6% completion rate through three years in the league so far. Couple that uninspired statline with his plethora of injuries sustained, major or minor, and it’s hard to see why someone would continue betting on him, but as Manzano mentions, the potential is hard to quit.
So yes, while Riley Leonard has the inside track to winning the QB2 role due to his fit, durability, and loyalty (i.e., not requesting a trade), Richardson still has enough on his resume to warrant keeping around.
Most have jumped off the Richardson train by this point, but there are still plenty of people, Colts general manager Chris Ballard included, who believe he can rebound from this brutal start to his career. Furthermore, the Colts would greatly benefit from having two viable backups in Richardson and Leonard, given that Daniel Jones is just as prone to injury at this point in his career.
The Colts may be taking on nearly $11M in cap to keep Richardson around, and there’s certainly a chance he reinjures himself whilst not playing a snap (circa 2025), but this regime is in a make or break year, so having as many viable options at the sport’s most important position seems like a fair tradeoff.
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St. Paul’s five-game winning streak came to a close Friday night as Indianapolis defeated the Saints 8-3 at CHS Field.
It was the first win in three tries so far for the Indians, who had fallen to St. Paul in the first two matchups of their six-game series.
Indianapolis never trailed in the game, holding a 1-0 lead after the first inning and a 4-1 advantage after two off of Saints starter Ricky Castro. Castro (0-1) lasted just 2 2/3 innings and saw his ERA balloon from 4.32 to 6.55 after allowing four earned runs on seven hits while striking out six.
St. Paul scored all of its runs off solo homers as part of its eight-hit night. Two of the blasts came from Kyler Fedko, one apiece in the second and seventh innings, before Kaelen Culpepper launched his round-tripper in the eighth.
The Saints fell to 32-28 with the loss, while the Indians improved to 25-36 with their initial victory of the week.
The two teams return to the diamond on Saturday, with St. Paul sending Aaron Rozek to the mound for a 6:37 p.m. start.
Indianapolis, IN
Indianapolis firefighter dies unexpectedly while participating in military training
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Fire Department and the Indiana National Guard are mourning the passing of one of their own.
Sgt. Nathaniel J. Thomas, 34, died unexpectedly on Thursday while on orders at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Thomas served as an infantryman in the National Guard while also serving as a firefighter private for IFD.
At the time of his passing, Thomas was on military leave from his firefighter role to fulfill training obligations for the military.
The Indianapolis Fire Department said Thomas joined the department on Feb. 22, 2021. He was assigned to Engine 9 A shift.
IFD said Thomas was “a trusted brother at the firehouse, dedicating his civilian life to protecting the community from emergencies and hazards.”
Thomas leaves behind his wife, Morgan, and their five children.
Both the National Guard and IFD encourage their members to use available peer support and behavioral health resources as they grieve this unexpected loss.
The family requests privacy at this time.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said the following in a statement:
“Maureen and I are heartbroken by the sudden loss of Sgt. Nathaniel Thomas, a dedicated Indiana National Guard soldier and Indianapolis firefighter who lived a life of service to others. Our prayers are with his wife, Morgan, their five children, and all who knew and loved him. Indiana will remember his service, honor his sacrifice, and carry forward the example he set for others.”
Concert tickets, rather notoriously, aren’t cheap these days. Luckily, central Indiana has plenty of live entertainment to offer that won’t drain your bank account.
Summer means free concert season, and there are ample opportunities to catch plenty of shows no matter your preferred genre. Rock, pop, jazz, classical, international music and tribute bands galore are set for local stages all season.
Pull up a lawn chair or grab a picnic blanket for more than 100 free concerts in Indianapolis, Fishers, Noblesville, Carmel, Greenwood, Plainfield, Mooresville, Kokomo, Rushville and more.
Festival and one-off show dates
- June 20: Bloombox Festival, with bands, vendors and artists creating original works. Harrison Center, 1505 N. Delaware St. harrisoncenter.org/bloombox
- July 3-4: CarmelFest, with a parade and festival that includes two days of live concerts. In and around Carter Green and Civic Square in Carmel. carmelfest.net/event-schedule
- June 18-20: Haynes Apperson Festival, with acts including Kool & The Gang and Foghat. Foster Park, 721 W. Superior St. in Kokomo. haynesappersonfestival.org
- July 14-15: Symphony in the Parks, with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at Ellenberger Park on July 14, 5301 E. St. Clair St and at Garfield Park on July 15, 2345 Pagoda Drive. tinyurl.com/437kfpr6
- Aug. 27 and 28: Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra at Taggart Memorial Amphitheater at Riverside Regional Park on Aug. 27, 1856 Burdsal Pkwy. At Holliday Park on Aug. 28, 6363 Spring Mill Road. Register for tickets: icomusic.org/shows
- Sept. 11: Opera in the Park, with Indianapolis Opera and guests, honoring the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. At MacAllister Amphitheater at Garfield Park, 2345 Pagoda Drive.
- Sept. 26: Garfield Park Art + Music Festival, with live music, food and more. MacAllister Amphitheater at Garfield Park, 2345 Pagoda Drive.
Groovin’ in the Garden at Easley Winery
205 N. College Ave. Full schedule and more information: easleywinery.com
Concerts are from 2-5 p.m. Saturdays in June and July. Feel free to bring your own food or order it there. Seating runs out quickly, so bring your own chairs. Highlights:
- June 6: Island Breeze
- June 27: Black Velvet Duo
- July 25: Two for the Show (pop and rock from the 1960s and 70s)
Levitt Vibe Indianapolis Music Series
Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis campus, 1125 Cruft St. Full schedule and more information: bigcar.org/project/vibe
Multi-genre concerts are from noon to 3 p.m. on the first or second Sunday of each month through November. Schedule of headliners:
- June 7: Brandon Meeks
- July 12: Glyders
- Aug. 9: Rob Dixon and Trilogy
- Sept. 13: Natural Information Society
- Oct. 11: Sofia Rei
- Nov. 8: Good Flying Birds
The Alley at The Cabaret
The Alley at Library Square, beside The Cabaret at 924 N. Pennsylvania St. More information: thecabaret.org.
7:30 p.m. on several Fridays in August. Reservations required for limited table seating. No reservations needed for patrons bringing lawn chairs.
- Aug. 7: Mariah Ivey, Troy Thomas with TruMusiq
- Aug. 14: Steve Allee
- Aug. 21: The Band Downstairs, Pavel and Direct
- Aug. 28: Stephanie Allen-Stevenson and Composition
Indy Parks concert series
At different parks across the city. Check parks.indy.gov/free-concert-series for times, locations and the full schedule. Highlights:
- June 10: Premium Blend (Eagle Creek Beach)
- June 14: Lester Johnson and Sandy Lomax (Watkins Park)
- June 18: PsyWrn Simone (Riverside Park)
- June 25: CRP Music featuring Rob Dixon and Okara Imani
- June 26: Shawn McGowan (Broad Ripple Park)
- July 7: Cathy Morris (Wes Montgomery Park)
- July 14: Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (Ellenberger Park)
- July 16: Clint Breeze (Martin Luther King Park)
- Aug. 9: Hip-Hop Anthology (Garfield Park)
- Aug. 15: Indy Ballet (Riverside Park)
- Aug. 28: Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra (Holliday Park)
Fishers Community Concert Series
Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, 6 Municipal Drive in Fishers. Full schedule and more info: fishersparks.com
Concerts on Tuesdays in June and July. All concerts begin at 7 p.m. Patrons can bring chairs, blankets and food.
- June 9: Living Proof
- June 16: Blue Water Kings
- June 23: Toy Factory
- June 30: Karma
- July 7: Big Rosco and The Hammers
- July 14: The Doo Band
- July 21: The Flying Toasters
- July 28: Stella Luna and The Satellites
Concerts at the Commons
First Merchants Pavilion at Federal Hill Commons, 175 Logan St. in Noblesville. Full schedule and more info: noblesvilleparks.org
Concerts are at 7 p.m. on some Saturdays from June through September.
- June 13: EMO KIDS
- June 27: Southern Accents
- July 25: The Silver Bullet Experience
- August 15: Rod Tuff Curls and The Bench Press
- August 29: Dusty Millers No Fences Garth Brooks Tribute
- September 12: Hyryder
Dillon Park Summer Concert Tour
Dillon Park, 6351 Midland Lane in Noblesville. Full schedule and more info: noblesvilleparks.org
Concerts are at 7 p.m. on most Thursdays in June and July.
- June 18: Groove Smash
- July 9: Toy Factory
- July 16: Indigos Band
- July 30: Jai Baker 3
Summer Family Concert Series at the Gazebo
Carmel Gazebo, 1 Civic Square in Carmel. Full schedule and more info: carmelgazeboconcerts.org
Concerts are at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 9. Highlights:
- June 10: My Yellow Rickshaw
- June 24: 45RPM
- July 15: Cook and Belle
- Aug. 5: Rick K and The Allnighters
- Aug. 19: The Woomblies Rock Orchestra
- Sept. 9: Endless Summer Band
Late Night on Main
Carmel Arts & Design District, East Main Street and North Rangeline Road. carmelporchfest.org
Concerts start at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
- June 20: Jai Baker
- July 18: Blair Clark and The Fun Factor Band
- Aug. 15: Dude!
- Sept. 20: Carmel Porchfest (noon-6 p.m.)
Entertainment at Depot Street Park
Depot Street Park, 251 Depot St. in Greenfield. parksingreenfield.com
Concerts start at 6 p.m.
- June 12: The Flying Toasters
- June 25: Hard Day’s Night
- July 10: James Taylor Tribute and Sounds of Summer
- July 24: The Woomblies Rock Orchestra
- Aug. 7: Chris Collins: A John Denver Tribute
- Aug 21: No Fences
Live at the Rails
Depot Street Park, 251 Depot St. in Greenfield. parksingreenfield.com/live-at-the-rails
Concerts start at 6 p.m.
- June 13: The Kings of Queen
- July 18: Thunderstruck (AC/DC Tribute)
- Aug. 15: Boys in the Band (Alabama Tribute)
- Sept. 5: Shadow of a Doubt and A Springsteen Celebration
- Sept. 19: Moving in Stereo and E5SC4P3
Mallow Run Winery’s Picnic Concert Series
Mallow Run Winery, 6964 W. Whiteland Road in Bargersville. Full schedule and more info: mallowrun.com
Many shows are free through Sept. 19. Music starts at 6 p.m. for the following. Highlights:
- June 13: Shining Star
- June 20: Hairbangers Ball
- July 11: Bon Journeyed
- Aug. 1: The Doo!
- Aug 22: The Nauti Yachtys
- Sept. 12: Midtown Madmen
Music in the Park
Blue River Memorial Park, 725 Lee Blvd. in Shelbyville. shelbyparks.com.
Concerts begin at 7 p.m., mostly on Fridays through Sept. 12.
- June 26: Boys in the Band (Alabama Tribute)
- July 12: Sam Morrison Band (Southern Rock Explosion)
- July 31: Matt Mason
- Aug 7: Captain Mike and the Shipwrecked (Jimmy Buffett Tribute)
- Sept. 12: 84 and Excitable (Van Halen and Def Leppard Tribute)
Greenwood Summer Concert Series
Greenwood Amphitheater in Craig Park, 300 S. Washington St. in Greenwood. Full schedule and more information: greenwood.in.gov
7 p.m. on most Saturdays through Aug. 8.
- June 6: Big Rosco and The Hammers
- June 13: Cosmic Situation
- June 20: The Woomblies Rock Orchestra
- July 11: Blue River Band
- July 18: Cornfield Mafia
- July 25: Tastes Like Chicken
- Aug. 1: The Big 80s
- Aug. 8: Soul Street
Greenwood Park Mall Summer Concert Series
1251 U.S. Hwy 31 North in Greenwood. More information: simon.com
Concerts start at 6:30 p.m. most Thursdays.
- June 11: Dream Slice
- June 18: Tastes Like Chicken
- June 25: Blue River Band
- July 9: The Big 80s
- July 16: Back2Mac
Beech Grove Concert Series
Sarah T. Bolton Park, 1300 Churchman Ave. in Beech Grove. More information: beechgroveconcertseries.nicepage.io
Concerts start around 7 p.m. every other Thursday from June-August. Highlights:
- June 11: Train Wreck
- July 9: The Doo
- Aug. 6: Small Town
- Aug. 20: Cornfield Mafia
Franklin Parks’ Summer Concert Series
DriveHubler.com Amphitheater at Youngs Creek Park, 237 West Monroe St. in Franklin. More information: franklinparks.org
Concerts start at 7 p.m. Highlights:
- June 6: Dusty Miller Band
- July 3: Blue River Band (38th Infantry Division Band at 5 p.m.)
- Aug. 14: Absolute Queen
- Sept. 26: Clayton Anderson at the Fall Festival
Hummel Park Concert Series
Hummel Park Performing Arts Center, 5373 S. Sugar Grove Road in Plainfield. More information: guilfordtownship.com
Concerts start at 7 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) mostly on Saturdays from June-September.
- June 13: Victims of Love (Eagles tribute)
- 5 p.m. July 4: Big Rosco and the Hammers, food and fireworks
- July 25: No Fences (Garth Brooks tribute)
- Aug. 8: Parrots of the Caribbean (Jimmy Buffett tribute)
- Aug. 29: Sounds of Summer (Beach Boys tribute)
Live by the Levee Summer Concert Series
Riverside Park Amphitheater, 302 S. Riverside Drive in Rushville. More information: rushvilleamphitheater.com
Concerts start at 7 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on several Saturdays from June-September. Highlights:
- June 20: IPOP (DJ-style approach)
- July 11: Gabriel Sanchez (Prince Experience)
- Aug. 15: The Springsteen Experience
- 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19: On the Border (Eagles tribute)
Kokomo Summer Concert Series
Kokomo Performing Arts Pavilion at Foster Park, 721 W. Superior St. in Kokomo. Full schedule and more information: visitkokomo.org
Concerts start at 5 p.m. See website for future announcements.
- June 13: Grateful Grass
- July 11: Hippies & Cowboys
Mooresville Summer Concert Series
Pioneer Park, 1101 Indianapolis Road in Mooresville. Full schedule and more information: mooresvilleparks.com
Concerts start at 7 p.m. on some Thursdays through August.
- June 11: Cook & Belle
- July 16: Big Rosco and the Hammers
- July 30: Soul Street
- Aug. 6: The Revelators
- Aug. 20: Tastes Like Chicken
This Indy newsletter has the best shows, art and eats
Contact IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at 317-444-7339 or d.bongiovanni@indystar.com. Sign up here for the newsletter she curates about things to do and ways to explore Indianapolis. Find her on Facebook, Instagram or X: @domenicareports.
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