Anthony Richardson’s second-half turn against the Falcons didn’t bring much relief for the Colts’ passing game, but it did give a clearer look at what still separates him in this preseason battle.
With Riley Leonard starting for Indianapolis, Richardson came on after halftime and found the air game just as cramped. He completed 3 of 9 passes for 24 yards, good for a meager 2.7 yards per attempt.
The issues around him were hard to miss. The offensive line kept him under steady pressure, and several of his throws came with little separation between Colts receivers and Atlanta defenders. That made it difficult for Richardson to find anything easy downfield.
Still, he showed the trait that keeps him in the conversation: the ability to make something out of broken plays. On a fourth-quarter drive into Falcons territory, he escaped two near sacks and turned both into positive gains, including one play that moved the chains for a first down.
The Colts also leaned more on zone reads with Richardson, giving the defense another layer to worry about. And when the pocket has collapsed this preseason, Richardson has looked more comfortable handling that heat.
Shane Steichen said earlier this week that he doesn't have a timetable when it comes to making a decision on who the backup will be.
From the outside looking in, it's been difficult to decipher up to this point who has the upper hand in this battle. That said, Richardson has had the better overall preseason performance over the last two weeks, and his mobility has helped set him a part, even when the passing game is sputtering.
In Other News...
Colts Left Preseason Week 2 With 3 Big Roster Questions
The Colts left their Week 2 preseason game with a better sense of some things and a lot less clarity on others, especially at linebacker. Akeem Davis-Gaither appears lined up to start, but who will work alongside him is still up in the air, and that uncertainty sits right next to another area that looked thin again: the pass rush. Indianapolis managed only one sack and one quarterback hit, leaving the front seven with more questions than answers as the roster picture starts to sharpen.
There is also a real decision coming at backup quarterback, where Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson are both trying to separate themselves for different reasons. Both had their share of passing struggles, but their styles are not the same and that matters as the Colts keep sorting out how they want the position behind the starter to look. With one preseason game down and another layer of evaluation still to come, the race on the depth chart feels far from settled. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Real Jaylahn Tuimoloau Problem
Jaylahn Tuimoloau arrived with real draft capital behind him, the kind of investment that usually buys a young edge rusher a longer runway in Indianapolis. Instead, the second-year pass rusher has spent the preseason and his rookie season trying to find his footing, and the latest reminder came against the Falcons, where he finished without registering a statistic.
For a Colts team that has already had plenty of trouble hitting on quarterbacks and edge rushers in recent years, Tuimoloaus slow start is more than just a depth-chart nuisance. The organization can afford patience to a point, but if the production does not come in 2026, the conversation could shift from development to whether a benching or even a release becomes part of the equation. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Preseason Opponent Just Entered Indianas Flood Relief Effort
The Falcons have joined a growing list of organizations helping Indiana recover from the severe storms that have caused major damage, power outages and emergency declarations across the state. Atlanta and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced a $25,000 donation to the American Red Cross for flood relief, adding to the broader response around a situation that has already prompted a pending request for a Major Disaster Declaration from the federal government.
For Colts fans, it is a reminder that one of Indianapolis preseason opponents is also part of the wider effort off the field. The Colts and Pacers Sports and Entertainment had already committed $250,000 to the same cause, underscoring how quickly local sports groups have moved to support relief efforts while communities continue dealing with the aftermath. [Read more 🡒]