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INDIANAPOLIS — Call it a competition.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard made it clear at the NFL Scouting Combine that Anthony Richardson must compete for and win the quarterback job if he wants to remain the starter in Indianapolis in 2025. Given Richardson is the only QB under contract, the Colts will be bringing in the competitors this offseason.

“We’ve had good conversations,” Ballard said. “Anthony accepted all of it. He understands there needs to be some growth in his work. That’s the one thing I’m really proud of him about. There’s no deferring or defenseness. He’s like, ‘I know, I’ve got to go to work.'”

Richardson, 22, enters his third NFL season with 15 games under his belt, a 50.6 completion percentage, 11 TD passes, 10 rushing touchdowns, 13 interceptions and 12 fumbles four lost).

The flashes of stardom are impossible to ignore, but not enough for Ballard and the Colts to keep the 2023 No. 4 overall pick on a pedestal at the position.

“I don’t want to say naive when he first came into the league, but he was a little naive,” Ballard said. “I think you saw spurts of it: he’s really competitive. I think for a six-game stretch there, we saw some really special stuff out of him. Now we’ve just got to get consistent. He’s a really good dude. He cares. And I think we’ll put the work in.

“I know we all want Superman every week, every day. His background when he came into the league when we took him, it is what it is. We’ve got to work through that.”

Richardson can fling the ball 65 yards without straining, but hitting a moving target is another story. He completed 47.7 percent of his passes in 2024, historically bad from an accuracy perspective and easily the worst among starters. He had 10 or fewer completions in six of the 11 games he appeared in last season.

Richardson is training in Florida and Ballard said the QB is focused on improving ball placement and touch. The Colts won’t see the results until minicamp, but Ballard is optimistic about the reveal.

“I think we’re going to see a good version,” Ballard said.

–Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media