Anthony Richardson giveth, and Anthony Richardson taketh away.

That’s been the story of the former fourth overall draft selection’s short career thus far, with massive highs and lows defining the quarterback’s NFL career through three seasons.

But during the Indianapolis Colts‘ 2026 preseason opener against the New England Patriots, Anthony Richardson wasn’t perfect, but he was more good than bad, and that’s all you can ask for at this point.

Richardson has been cleared from his season-ending orbital eye injury for months, but his training camp showing entering preseason play has been less than ideal and brought concern that he’ll never fully recover.

However, in the Colts’ aforementioned preseason opener, Richardson appeared to have turned a corner on what had been an unfortunate 2026 campaign prior.

AR Settles In

Anthony Richardson needed a strong showing in the Colts’ preseason opener after an uninspired training camp showing up to this point. He seemingly had no connection with any of his backup passcatchers and had constant snap issues throughout practice, and was trending in the wrong direction.

After displaying some poor tendencies early on against the Patriots that resulted in multiple turnovers, Richardson settled in and looked the best he has all offseason.

Richardson’s aforementioned two turnovers, a fumble and an interception, were both poor plays on his part, but the interception, while not the best ball, was more than catchable, but bounced off and fell into Patriots cornerback Kindle Vildor’s hands.

Instead of letting his early struggles get the best of him, Richardson rebounded in a big way to close out the first half. He delivered two promising drives to end the half, scoring on a red zone rush in the first, before delivering a six-play, 49-yard, 28-second drive that set up a 61-yard end-of-half field goal attempt.

Richardson got the first half of tonight’s preseason matchup, whereas Leonard was dealt clean-up duties, and the two will flip in next week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Naturally, this meant he was with the second-team unit while Leonard rolled with the reserves, but still, it was an overall impressive showing.

In one half against the New England Patriots, Anthony Richardson went 11-14 (78.5%) for 145 yards (10.4 average), 1 passing touchdown, and 1 interception through the air, while also adding a team-high 53 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, and 1 fumble lost on six carries.

Richardson undoubtedly looked the best he has throughout the preseason and has given himself a real shot at the Colts’ QB2 opening.

AR’s Future in Colts’ Offense

The Indianapolis Colts allowed Anthony Richardson to seek a trade throughout the offseason, but after no suitors came calling, he returned to finish out his rookie contract with the team that took a shot on him in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Head coach Shane Steichen has preached consistency in the Colts’ uninspired QB2 battle between Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard, and the former answered those demands despite struggling early.

“The guy that’s going to be most consistent is going to win that job,” Colts’ head coach Shane Steichen said after training camp practice last week. “Those guys are battling. It’s back and forth right now. Obviously we will grade the tape, go through it and get better every day.”

Yes, it’s not ideal that the Colts’ former fourth-overall pick is battling their recent sixth-round pick for a backup role, but this is the reality, and Richardson showed up when he needed to most.

Richardson’s subpar training camp showing suggested that he’d need a big turnaround in preseason play to earn the Colts’ backup quarterback role beneath Daniel Jones, and so far, he’s stepping up to the challenge.

Who knows, Richardson may not only win the Colts’ QB2 opening, but he may force Shane Steichen to utilize his legs in the red zone during the regular season.

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FOXBORO — While the New England Patriots tied with the Indianapolis Colts 13-13 in Thursday evening’s preseason opener, the game was one swing-of-the-leg away from going in New England’s favor.

In the waning moments of the matchup, the Patriots’ offense — led by rookie Behren Morton — drove downfield to set up a 49-yard field goal attempt for second-year kicker Andy Borregales.

The 23-year-old pushed it wide left, his third miss of the day on five attempts.

Borregales’ night began with a 40-yard make on New England’s opening drive of the game. In the final minute of the first quarter, he pulled a 56-yarder left of the goal posts. He drilled his next attempt from 52-yards out, but followed it up with misses to the left on a 55-yarder and the 49-yard go-ahead attempt.

Head coach Mike Vrabel, who is no stranger to kicker mishaps, was asked about Borregales’ following New England’s draw with Indianapolis.

“We’re going to have mistakes. In everything we do, we just need to be able to come back,” he said. “We need to be able to bounce back, and we need to be able to answer. Guys are going to drop a pass. Guys are going to miss a block. We’re going to miss a kick.

“But you just have to not let those things pile up, and Andy’s been really good with that, and I would anticipate him getting back to work and really starting to focus, and maybe it was a footwork thing or trying to overswing.”

“It Is Important That We Make All Our Field Goals”

Vrabel has a history of kicker difficulties dating back to his time with the Tennessee Titans. In his six seasons as the organization’s head coach, he had a different kicker lead the team in field goal attempts in five of them.

“If we make kicks, we will have the same kicker,” Vrabel said on July 27. “It is important that we make all our field goals … But obviously, having Andy make the type of big kicks that he made last year, we felt very comfortable having him back.”

Last season, Borregales connected on 27 of his 32 field goal attempts and finished the year by connecting on 59-consecutive extra point attempts (including playoffs). Thursday was a stark change of pace from the kicker’s impressive rookie year.

“I don’t have a message (for Borregales),” Vrabel said postgame. “I mean, we’re expecting to make them. It’s pro football. (The Colts are) banging them in from 60 yards. They’ve got two kickers on the roster. So, you know, Andy knows we have to make those field goals.”

Vrabel mentioned the team will discuss potentially bringing in competition for Borregales, who is currently the sole kicker on the roster. But for now, New England’s head coach remains assured in his kicker.

“I have confidence in Andy,” Vrabel said. “You want to be able to make those, and I think we got in a position to win the football game, and you want to be able to make them.”

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