Indianapolis Colts fans have already heard what Josh Downs had to say about Daniel Jones, and it's nothing but good news for everyone. In fact, a handful of Colts players are reportedly looking outstanding in the early days of training camp, including Jones's potential backup.Â
Riley Leonard is currently in a position battle with former first-round pick Anthony Richardson. The latter is trying to maintain what grip he has left on his career with the Colts. It's still possible Richardson gets traded, but for now, the Colts intend to keep him, as he's trying to beat out Leonard for the No. 2 quarterback spot.
Leonard is trying to keep Richardson at bay in becoming the No. 2 passcatcher, and so far, the former Notre Dame Fighting Irish star is doing exactly that. It's still early at Colts training camp, but Leonard has outplayed and outperformed Richardson, raising the question: are the results of this position battle already inevitable?Â
Riley Leonard is creating space to win the QB2 job at the Indianapolis Colts' camp
As far as talent and skill are concerned, Richardson has Leonard beat. That said, Leonard could win the Colts' backup quarterback job anyway, which would certainly mark the end of Richardson's brief and embattled time in Indianapolis sooner rather than later. Leonard has to win the job, though.Â
If the early progress that Leonard is showing at Colts camp continues, he's on his way to securing that job. Multiple sources out of Indianapolis point to Leonard performing better than Richardson. While Jones has obviously taken the bulk of the workload with the first-team offense, Leonard has done the same with the second team.Â
Leonard has been more active than Richardson. At one point, Leonard was 8-for-15 to Richardson's 1-for-3. The workload was clearly in Leonard's favor early on. Key moments for Leonard came from a 50-yard bomb to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who is fighting for a No. 3 wide receiver spot with fellow depth pass catchers.Â
According to Colts insiders from The Indy Star, Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown, Leonard took the ball and ran with it on Day 4 of camp, even getting all 2-minute drill reps while Richardson looked on, which was where the deep-ball connection with Westbrook-Ikhine happened.
Within the first week of Colts camp, Leonard's name is coming up more often, and while that doesn't necessarily guarantee anything long-term, it is a good early sign.Â
Going into the new season, whoever the Colts decide to back up Jones directly will be key. Jones may look solid right now, but injuries have occurred plenty of times in his career, and he's coming off his biggest injury now. If health and availability become an issue again this season, there won't be a Philip Rivers 3.0.
It will be Leonard or Richardson. Today, Leonard appears to have the edge. As long as he keeps doing what he did over the weekend, Leonard is in the driver's seat, and it could have severe implications for what happens with Richardson either this season or after it.Â
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