Report: Colts' Anthony Richardson to Work Out with Josh Allen, Use VR to Train

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard told reporters on Tuesday that the team plans to hold an "open" competition between Anthony Richardson and a player they'll acquire this offseason.

Richardson reportedly wasn't surprised by those plans, according to NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe, and intends to not only work out with Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen this offseason, but also plans to incorporate VR in his training:

Rookie sensation Jayden Daniels has utilized VR training since his time at LSU, and obviously to great effect—he was the Offensive Rookie of the Year this past season and just led the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game.

"It moves faster within the VR than actual human beings," Daniels told reporters ahead of the 2024 season. "Once you get out there, everything slows down. I know this is coming. I've seen this before, (and) it moved more than 20 times faster in VR."

So both aspects of Richardson's offseason plans make sense. Allen is a big, dual-threat quarterback like Richardson who had to tweak his own throwing motion and grow as a passer in his career. And using VR should help him slow down the game and go through his progressions more quickly.

Either way, Ballard was clear that the Colts aren't just bringing in another quarterback as an insurance policy.

"It's got to be the right guy to create real competition," he told repoters. "We want to create real competition. I think it's good for the team. I think it's good for Anthony. We drafted Anthony high knowing it was going to take some time and we knew there's going to be some hiccups along the way. I know we all want a finished product right now. I do. You do. Fans do. We all do. But I think as he continues to progress in his young career, us adding competition, I think, will help up everybody's game."

Richardson, 22, has shown flashes of the tantalizing athleticism and enormous upside that made him the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. But he's also struggled with consistency and staying healthy—in just 15 career games across two seasons he's thrown for 2,391 yards, 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, completing just 50.6 percent of his passes.

He's shown the ability to be a difference-maker with his legs, rushing for 635 yards and 10 touchdowns. But his no-holds-barred running style has also contributed to his injury issues.

The 2025 offseason is an important one for Richardson. If he fails to win the starting job this offseason—or wins the job but struggles during the regular season—the Colts are going to have to prioritize finding a new franchise quarterback.

Richardson, to his credit, seems to understand the urgency of this offseason and has developed a solid plan in response.