Anthony Richardson's trade request won't go away

Training camp is supposed to be a fresh start. Instead the Colts are opening theirs with the exact same quarterback drama they've been sitting on since February. Chris Ballard stood in front of reporters and confirmed the obvious: Anthony Richardson's trade request is still very much alive.

This isn't new information exactly, but it's the first time it's been said out loud with pads about to come on. NFL Network first reported back in February that Richardson and the Colts had mutually agreed to explore a trade after Indianapolis committed to Daniel Jones as the starter. Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023, watched Jones take the job and reportedly asked out heading into what was supposed to be his make-or-break 4th year.

Ballard didn't sound like a man in a rush to move him, though. He told reporters the Colts have fielded calls but 'nothing's come to fruition at this time,' and made clear he's not giving Richardson away for scraps. There's also a real complication working against a quick resolution: Richardson is reportedly owed a guaranteed $4.24 million roster bonus within the first 15 days of camp, which either gets paid by Indy or has to get sorted out fast if a trade partner steps up.

The health piece matters here too. Richardson is still working back from the eye injury that ended his 2025 season early, and Ballard says he's been cleared and taking part in all team activity. That's a positive, but it also means any team calling about him is buying a QB with 2 straight years of injury and inconsistency questions attached to a top-5 draft pedigree.

So for now the Colts are stuck running it back with an awkward QB room: Jones atop the depth chart coming off his own Achilles rehab, Riley Leonard getting third-string reps, and Richardson practicing every day for a team he's already told he wants to leave. That's not a chemistry problem you draw up in a playbook, and it's going to follow this team into every camp report until somebody blinks.

Nothing forces Ballard's hand until that roster bonus deadline hits or an offer he actually likes lands on his desk. Until then, expect Richardson to keep suiting up in Colts gear, keep answering trade questions in every presser, and keep this saga as the most talked-about non-story of Indy's summer.