On one play, Richardson shows why he needs to be the choice over Jones

He's a wildcard, to be sure, but it's time to see what AR can do in a full (we hope) NFL season.

The play that should win Anthony Richardson this quarterback competition was called back by a penalty Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. The play was the kind we’ve been waiting for so long to see from Richardson, the kind that differentiates him from Daniel Jones. It was the kind that makes Richardson such a tantalizing talent, the kind that gives the Colts a higher ceiling (and, of course, a lower floor) with him behind center.

On the play, Richardson eluded a Green Bay pass rusher, shrugged him off like an insult, then launched a beautiful 38-yard pass to Anthony Gould, who stretched out and made the excellent over-the-shoulder catch.

Holy crap! That’s what we’ve been waiting for!

But wait a second. There’s a flag. It’s an offsides on AD Mitchell, producer of at least one brain fart every game, lining up beyond the football. And Richardson was hot. Could you blame him? This guy, Mitchell, a second-round pick who had a disastrous rookie year, he’s Donte Moncrief, a training-camp all star, a guy who turns into a pumpkin when the lights go on.

Anyway.

We’re talking about the quarterback derby, not Mitchell.

We’re talking about that play.

I guess I would ask, what else does Shane Steichen need to see? Even if he goes with Jones – a defensible choice but not the one I would make – what more does anybody need to see with 21 days left before the start of the regular season? At some point, they need to name a starter – “I’m very close (to a decision), I’ll say that,” Steichen said -- and get him all the reps with the starters. This situation, this team, needs clarity, and the sooner, the better.

I’m guessing by the time they practice again Tuesday, we’ll know who the starter is. If not sooner.