Former Gator Anthony Richardson shows flashes in 2026 preseason debut

After falling down the Indianapolis Colts' depth chart, former Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. received the start in the team's preseason opener, allowing him to showcase his talent and potentially boost his trade value rather than risk being released. The former No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft played the entire first half of the game, giving him an extended look to showcase his talents. While on the field, Richardson showcased what scouts raved about when coming out as a highly touted draft prospect. Richardson threw for 145 passing yards, rushed for 53 yards, and added a touchdown on the ground. The former Gator also completed 78% of his passes with an 80.1 passer rating, showing off the dual-threat ability that made him such an intriguing prospect coming out of college However, Richardson's performance was far from perfect. He threw an interception on the Colts' opening drive before fumbling the ball several possessions later, halting another Indianapolis scoring opportunity. Richardson's preseason debut offered a glimpse of both the upside and inconsistencies that have plagued him in his young NFL career. While the former Gator showed flashes of the arm talent and rushing ability that made him the No. 4 overall pick, the turnovers remain an area he'll need to clean up. Richardson's future in Indianapolis is uncertain; however, he will have more opportunities to build on the positives from his preseason opener. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Former Gator Anthony Richardson shows flashes in 2026 preseason debut