NFL Preseason: 3 Biggest Takeaways from Colts-Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts opened the NFL preseason with a game that went beyond the scoreboard—it was about proving yourself.

NFL Preseason: 3 Biggest Takeaways from Colts-Ravens

On the Colts’ side, the quarterback battle drew the headlines, but rookie tight end Tyler Warren made an immediate impression in his debut.

For Baltimore, rookie edge rusher Mike Green showed disruptive flashes off the edge. Also, running back Keaton Mitchell returned from injury, injecting instant juice into the offense. For a NFL preseason matchup, there was no shortage of storylines that could shape both teams’ depth charts moving forward.

Let’s break it all down.

Indy’s QB Competition Heated Up, Then Fizzled Out

Entering the NFL preseason, the Indianapolis Colts have one of the most intriguing quarterback battles in the league.

On one hand is Anthony Richardson, the 2023 fourth overall pick with Cam Newton-like physical tools and a ceiling higher than Lucas Oil Stadium’s roof. Few athletes in the NFL can match his rare blend of size, speed, and arm talent. But for all the upside, injuries and inconsistent accuracy have defined his young career as much as his highlight-reel flashes.

On the other is Daniel Jones, the highly criticized former New York Giants starter now fighting to salvage his career in Indy. Jones is bigger than most remember, more athletic than he gets credit for, and brings more experience than most backup options. Jones won’t wow you with natural ability, but he can steady the ship with veteran leadership and command of an offense. His weaknesses, however, remain: turnovers, a spotty deep ball, and shaky pocket presence.

So, what kind of answers did we get from their pre-season performances?

Well, not many.

Anthony Richardson Tape Summary

Anthony Richardson completed just 2-of-3 pass attempts for 21 yards. He did not throw a touchdowns or interception before getting sacked and injured on his second drive. The injury was reported after the game to be a dislocated pinky on his throwing hand. Richardson is considered day-to-day moving forward.

Though it was a small sample size there were some important aspects to take away.

Let’s start with the positives. One thing we did not see from Richardson last season was his ability to throw with anticipation. On his first throw of the night we saw just that. Throwing with anticipation is important and maximizes separation at the catch point for wide receivers. This shows his growth as a passer.

Now to get into the concerns. Richardson’s availability quickly stole the headlines — an all too familiar story for Colts fans. On the surface, it’s not great, but digging deeper, it’s even more concerning.

Richardson’s injury stemmed from an avoidable sack where he botched an easy pass protection install. It’s something that a quarterback in his third season should not have an issue with. Richardson was hot off the edge, read the wrong side of the field, and held the ball too long, providing an extended runway leading to the devastating hit.

On the play, the Colts are operating in empty with SCAT protection. This means the running back and tight end will release on routes. That leaves only the five offensive lineman for protection. With six defenders in the box, the defense has the numbers, so the ball needs to be out fast.

Richardson’s job on this play is to diagnosis how many rushers are coming, where the pressure is coming from, and attack where the pressure came from. To help Richardson do this, the center will declare who the line identifies as the “Mike”. This tells Richardson which direction they will be sliding. In this instance, the offensive line will be working a full-slide to the left.

As for route combinations, Richardson has two options: an out and a go to the wide side of the field. On the near side, Tyler Warren is running a wrap in, Ashton Dulin is running a hitch, and the back is running to the flat.

Richardson should throw into the pressure to hit his “hot routes”, which would be the back in the flat or Dulin on the hitch. Richardson doesn’t have options on the other side of the field, but that is where his eyes go. Doing this takes away his hot routes and doesn’t allow him to have eyes on the free rusher.

When the ball is snapped, the front (left) side only receives one rusher with three offensive lineman to block him. The issue is created on the backside (right) because three rushers attack just two blockers. This means the two blockers need to take the two most dangerous rushers, leaving the final player for Richardson to account for.

On defense, No. 90, who gets the sack on the play, is the unblocked defender that Richardson needs to account for. Unfortunately for Richardson, he doesn’t even see it coming.

This sack was avoidable. If Richardson had identified the pressure at the snap, he could have taken his eyes to the correct side of the field, found his hot route, and got the ball out avoiding the knockout blow.

While the talent is undeniable, the clock is ticking on when potential needs to become production and missing time due to injury will serve him no favors. Learning how to protect himself is no longer optional, it’s mandatory.

Daniel Jones Tape Summary

Daniel Jones played the remainder of the first half, finishing 10-of-21 for 144 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions. While Jones was slated to play in the game regardless, he was afforded additional playing time once Richardson was ruled out leading to an extended sample to evaluate.

Jones showed poise early, completing a handful of intermediate throws. He was able to execute the offense — specifically in the short and intermediate portions of the field where he typically has found success. He made enough throws to keep drives alive. And though it didn’t count on the stat sheet due to penalty, he threw the only touchdown of the night for the Colts. Overall, it was a promising first appearance and something to build on moving into next week.

Who Starts in Week 1?

That answer remains unclear. But who should start remains Anthony Richardson. That is, if he’s healthy enough to do so.

The Anthony Richardson experience has been a rollercoaster, no question. But the Colts drafted him to transform the franchise. And through two seasons, he’s only appeared in 15 regular season games.

Richardson’s story is far from finished. In an NFL where Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Geno Smith are rekindling their careers on third and fourth chances, the Colts should give Richardson at least one more opportunity to prove he can be “the guy.”

The rekindling effect could also apply to Daniel Jones in his first season away from the Giants. If Richardson falters or can’t stay healthy, Jones is a solid fallback. But due to his own limitations, he isn’t a long-term answer. Jones is a parachute—break glass in case of emergency—not the future.

Starting Richardson also gives the Colts another full year of tape to evaluate before the 2026 NFL draft. That class is expected to feature a deep quarterback group with names like Garrett Nussmeier, Cade Klubnik, LaNorris Sellers, and Drew Allar.

The bottom line is that it’s now or never for Richardson. If he cannot string together consistent success or continues to struggle with injuries, the Colts will have no choice but to move on. If he can’t prove he’s the future this season, there’s a very real chance the Colts’ 2026 starting quarterback isn’t on the roster yet.

Tyler Warren is the real deal

If there were any doubt about Tyler Warren’s NFL readiness, he erased it against the Ravens.

The former Penn State standout put together a strong opening performance that showcased why he went in the top half of the 2025 NFL draft. Warren proved to be an immediate weapon securing all three of his targets for 40 yards. He looked like he belonged from the first snap with his strong hands, smooth route-running, and spacial awareness against zone that made him a reliable target throughout his reps.

Richardson found Warren over the middle of the field on a sit route for six yards on 2nd-and-13. While the play is relatively routine, it’s a good example of Warren’s natural ability to feel zones and navigate towards open space. Richardson saw this and placed the ball on his outside shoulder. That led Warren upfield, where he secures the catch outside his frame showing soft hands.

Whether the quarterback was Richardson or Jones, Warren was the intended target on a number of his routes. The sit route we just saw, the deep out shown earlier, and then this play where Warren works the middle of the field on a drag quickly transitioning into a runner and gaining extra yards.

Mike Green puts the league on notice

Moving to the Ravens’ sideline, Mike Green popped on the defense. If you only looked at the stat sheet, you’d be missing the full story. The one told on the tape, where Green was living in the backfield.

In the run game, Green set a good edge and maintained gap integrity. When backs approached, he did an excellent job of disengaging blocks and making the play on the runner.

In Green’s limited action as a pass-rusher, he showcased an explosive first step, excellent hand usage and active feet. He gave NFL offensive linemen a peak in his pass-rusher bag where he used a bull rush, cross chop, and spin move.

What was most notable from Green’s performance should not come as a surprise, and that’s his bend on the edge. This has always been a strength of Green’s game, but to see it win at the at this level confirmed his translation from the Marshall to the NFL.

Keaton Mitchell brings back the burst

For some fans, Keaton Mitchell broke onto the scene. Yet for others, this was Mitchell’s return to his rookie form.

During Mitchell’s rookie season (2023) he was developing into one of the most explosive backs in the league. Mitchell appeared in six games from Week 9-15, rushing 47 times for 396 yards with a 8.43 yards per carry (YPC) average while adding two touchdowns on the ground.

In Week 15, Mitchell tore his ACL which forced him to miss nearly the entire 2024 season.

Fast forward to this game, Mitchell flashed the game-breaking speed once again. His NFL preseason appearance confirmed he’s ready to build on his rookie season momentum.

Mitchell finished the game with nine rushes, 68 yards, and a touchdown on an outstanding 7.55 YPC average. On his limited touches he showed burst, vision, patience, and elite acceleration.

If Mitchell continues to build on this on this momentum, he could have a real chance to push Justice Hill as the complementary back to Derrick Henry in Baltimore.