The consistent quarterback turnover in Indianapolis is getting frustrating for star left guard Quenton Nelson.
Since being drafted in 2018, Andrew Luck's final season, Nelson has blocked for 11 different starting quarterbacks. Daniel Jones will be the 12th.
Following the news on Tuesday that Jones won the starting QB job over Anthony Richardson, Nelson was asked if the lack of consistency under center has been frustrating.
"I would say so. I think I'd be lying if I said it wasn't [frustrating]," he responded, via James Boyd of The Athletic. "You look around the league and see just the consistency of having Patrick Mahomes or a quarterback behind you that's been the franchise player for years and years and years, and getting to build that chemistry with that quarterback year after year is something that there is an advantage to when it comes to O-line play. So, to answer your question, yeah."
Luck's abrupt retirement in 2019 was part of the reason for the inconsistent quarterback situation, as the Colts tried a patchwork of veterans to replace the former No. 1 overall pick. Indy hoped Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in 2023, would end the turnover. Plagued by injury and inconsistent play, it never took.
Since 2018, Richardson has started 15 games for the Colts, tied for the fourth-most starts among the team's quarterbacks in that period: Carson Wentz (17), Philip Rivers (16), Luck (16), Jacoby Brissett (15), Richardson (15), Gardner Minshew (13), Matt Ryan (12), Joe Flacco (6), Sam Ehlinger (3), Nick Foles (2), and Brian Hoyer (1).
Richardson is the only Colts QB since 2018 to start games in multiple seasons.
This revolving door at quarterback is nothing new for Nelson.
"Since we signed Daniel, we knew that this was going to be a big decision for (coach) Shane (Steichen) and the front office to make," Nelson said. "And nothing really changes for us. We're still going to come to work, do our jobs, still support both guys. But it's nothing completely new to us."
Colts offensive linemen have often cited the inconsistency under center as an issue. Former center Ryan Kelly mentioned it in both 2022 and 2024 as a cause for concern. The only constant in Indy has been change.
While Richardson's agent, Deiric Jackson, fired shots at the Colts, citing “trust” issues in a statement to ESPN, the third-year quarterback took it on the chin.
"You've just got to respect the decision," Richardson said following the news. "They feel like he's the better fit for the team -- the better fit for the outcome of us winning. So, you've just got to respect it and just keep working. That doesn't undermine any other work I've been putting in. It doesn't say that I haven't improved. I'm proud of the improvement I've made."
Unfortunately, those improvements weren't enough to keep consistency under center in Indy.
With Jones on a one-year contract, there is no guarantee Nelson won't be blocking for a 13th starting QB in 2026.
