The Indianapolis Colts are less than two weeks away from the start of 2024 training camp at the Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield.
As is the case with every team, the quarterback position will be the determining factor in the result of the upcoming season. They have a young, budding star in the form of Anthony Richardson, who is coming off a lost rookie season due to a shoulder injury.
Richardson showed plenty of flashes during his four-game sample, but there are still some questions he must answer both from a health and a development standpoint.
The Colts narrowly missed out on a playoff berth with Gardner Minshew under center for the majority of the 2023 season. Finishing with a 9-7 record in Shane Steichen's first season was impressive enough, but the playoff drought extended to three years.
Before training camp arrives, we'll be previewing each position group for the Colts. From highlighting the new additions to projecting the depth chart, we'll have you covered on everything pertaining to the position.
2024 Colts training camp preview: Quarterback
Anthony Richardson a full-go
The biggest storyline throughout the entire roster surrounds the throwing shoulder of the franchise quarterback. After going through a bit of an injury scare during minicamp, Richardson is a full-go for training camp.
The surgically repaired right shoulder encountered some soreness during the end of the offseason workout program, which led to the Colts being cautious with the face of the franchise. Of course, Colts fans had a right to panic considering the history that comes with quarterback injuries.
However, Richardson is expected to have a full workload when the team returns to Westfield on July 24.
Offseason additions and departures
The Colts wisely allowed Gardner Minshew to sign a two-year, $25 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. In doing so, they needed to find a backup quarterback to fill that role behind Richardson on the depth chart. They landed on veteran Joe Flacco.
After helping lead the Cleveland Browns to a playoff spot, Flacco earned a solid one-year deal with the Colts in free agency. The Colts also added a pair of undrafted rookie free agents — Kedon Slovis and Jason Bean — following the 2024 NFL Draft.
Key position battle at quarterback
With Richardson and Flacco entrenched in their roles as the starter and backup, respectively, there's only one position battle taking place here at training camp. The duo of undrafted rookies will compete with third-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger for the QB3 role.
Ehlinger hasn't proven much in a small sample as a starter, but he does offer some juice as a running quarterback. The Colts also have Bean working at wide receiver so most eyes will be on the battle between Ehlinger and Slovis.
It's unlikely the Colts will carry three quarterbacks as long as Richardson is healthy so whoever wins this battle likely remains on the practice squad while serving as the emergency quarterback on game days.
Projected Week 1 quarterback depth chart
Rounding out the preview is a projection of the depth chart at quarterback, but it's pretty cut and dry.
Starter: Anthony Richardson
Backup: Joe Flacco
Depth: Sam Ehlinger (practice squad)
The battle between Ehlinger and Slovis could go either way, but we'll give the former the benefit of the doubt until we see them working in camp.
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