The Colts didn’t get much clarity from their first preseason game, and that was especially true in the quarterback room. With Daniel Jones not expected to play against the New England Patriots and possibly not at all in the preseason, the spotlight was there for Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson. Neither one made a clean grab for the backup job.
Indianapolis and New England finished tied 13-13, but the bigger story was how little either quarterback separated himself. Richardson started the game and didn’t do enough to look like the answer behind Jones. His interception wasn’t entirely on him, but the rest of his night didn’t leave much to sell.
Leonard had the first real chance to push past that competition, and he didn’t take it. If anything, his outing was even quieter than Richardson’s.
That doesn’t knock him out of the race, though. If anything, Leonard may still be in the better spot simply because Richardson may be giving the job away.
The former sixth-round pick looked shaky from the start and uncomfortable in the second half. The only stretch that offered much of anything came late, when Leonard helped put together two drives that ended with second-half field goals. He completed several short throws to Raylen Sharpe and added an 11-yard run, which was enough to close the night on a more respectable note.
Before that, the numbers were rough. Leonard finished 10-for-21 for 89 passing yards, with one interception and one fumble.
Richardson also had an interception and a fumble, which only added to the muddled picture. Leonard’s first two possessions to open the second half went three-and-out, and he never really found a rhythm.
The Patriots’ pressure made life difficult, but Leonard still couldn’t settle in and handle it. So the first swing at locking down the backup job didn’t land. Still, Richardson didn’t seize the opening either.
That leaves Leonard in a strange but workable position. He doesn’t have to be spectacular to win the role, just a little better than Richardson.
And right now, the former first-round rookie doesn’t look like he’s ready to clear that bar. Leonard still has a path here.
What happens next may depend as much on Richardson as on Leonard himself.
In Other News...
Colts Just Brought In A Record-Setting Quarterback For A Tryout
The Colts took a closer look at a small but intriguing group of free agents in a recent tryout, bringing in five players as they continue to sort through depth options. Among them was quarterback Mark Gronowski, whose college career came with plenty of production before a brief stop with Miami ended quickly, and whose one season at Iowa only added to the sense that he is still a developmental name worth monitoring.
Indianapolis also worked out three veteran receivers in Josh Reynolds, TreQuan Smith and Equanimeous St. Brown, plus cornerback Jaylon Guilbeau, a former Texas starter. For the Colts, the mix says a lot about where roster churn can still matter this time of year, with experience on the perimeter and a young defensive back all getting a look as the team keeps evaluating who might fit into the next wave of depth moves. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Walley Is Making The Colts Cornerback Picture A Lot Harder
Justin Walley has given the Colts something to think about early in camp, and he did it in a setting where defensive backs can make a real statement. The rookie cornerback, who has not played in an NFL game yet, stood out during a training camp practice by getting his hands on two passes in the end zone, a notable flash for a player trying to climb the depth chart in a crowded secondary.
The timing matters because Indianapolis is still sorting through its cornerback options while several players were either injured or working their way back during the session. On the other side of the ball, Daniel Jones and the offense had a mixed red-zone day, finishing 7 of 13 through the air, while backups Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson also had solid moments. For a defense looking for answers, Walleys performance only makes the rotation discussion more interesting. [Read more 🡒]