The 2026 preseason is in full swing after Thursday night, with the Detroit Lions having their first action in a 16-14 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. Of course there are plenty of takeaways for the Lions after their game, but their exhibition match wasn’t the only one relevant to them on Thursday.
While the preseason helps teams get ready for the regular season, it’s also a time when players showcase themselves to other teams. That’s exactly what Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson did, and Detroit should have been paying attention.
Lions should explore a trade for Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson
Indianapolis made its decision early in the offseason to move forward with Daniel Jones as its quarterback, and the Colts have been working with Richardson’s team since to find a trade partner. However, a deal never materialized. With the changing landscape of the NFL, a strong preseason from Richardson could change that.
He got off to a strong start on Thursday, starting for Indianapolis in its 13-13 draw against the New England Patriots. The fourth-year quarterback completed 11-of-14 passes for 145 yards and an interception, that went through a receiver’s hands. He also added six carries for 53 yards and a touchdown, but fumbled once.
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Obviously, it’s just the preseason, but Richardson still has the tools that made him the fourth-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. He can rip passes all over the field, and his rushing ability allows him to bring a different juice to the field.
The Lions are all set at the starting quarterback position, but there are questions about the QB2 spot following Teddy Bridgewater’s retirement. Detroit has signed Joshua Dobbs since then, and also has rookie Luke Altmyer, but there isn’t a lot of confidence that they are the right guys to step in if Lions starter Jared Goff goes down.
There may not even be a lot of confidence from fans in Richardson, considering how his time in Indy unfolded. However, he has clear tools to work with and is an incredibly intriguing backup QB option. Considering that he’s in the final year of his rookie contract, and the Colts want to move on, it shouldn’t cost the Lions much to acquire him. Trading for Anthony Richardson is a move Detroit should look into.
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