The Indianapolis Colts thankfully will have quarterback Daniel Jones ready to begin the 2026 season. If he wasn't, Indy would likely be facing a doomed season quickly. Jones' backups, Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson, don't appear ready for primetime.
Many Indy fans likely hoped that Leonard would take control of the QB2 spot in training camp and the preseason, as Richardson had requested a trade, hadn't been good in three years, and had just a season left on his contract. Leonard could be the long-term backup to Jones.
That might still be the case, but through two preseason games, Richardson is the one trending toward being Jones' immediate backup. Leonard has been unimpressive, and more like what a sixth-round quarterback normally looks like. He was solid in Week 18 last year against the Houston Texans, but he hasn't picked back up at that level.
Riley Leonard looks more like QB3 for the Indianapolis Colts with one preseason game left
The Colts have rotated starting quarterbacks through the first two preseason games, with Richardson starting in preseason Week 1 and Leonard in preseason Week 2. Richardson has looked better in both games.
Against the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday, Leonard was seven of 14 passing for 62 yards. He gained two yards on a run. That last part is important because that is where Richardson is outpacing Leonard quite a bit ahead of the season.
Richardson was just three of nine passing, but two of his throws were dropped. He also ran three times for 15 yards. He is able to use his legs to be productive, and Leonard is still struggling with when to run and when not to. That indecisiveness will lead to offensive inefficiency, and, therefore, to losses should Leonard be pressed into real action.
Leonard did have one good throw to Coleman Owen for 39 yards, but if one takes that pass away, then Leonard only threw for 23 yards on six completions. That isn't winning football.
Speaking with the media after the game, Leonard said, according to The Athletic's James Boyd, "Obviously, not to my standard. A couple throws I want back...There were a couple of times when the ball location could have been better...The times when I have a lot of regret is when I don't know what I'm doing out there, I don't know who's where, and can't find them."
Ouch. That is not anything any fan wants to hear a quarterback say. While Leonard should get credit for his honesty, he probably should have kept those exact thoughts to himself. In year two in head coach Shane Steichen's scheme, Leonard should know what is going to happen on every play, whether he can execute the pass or not.
With just one preseason game left, Anthony Richardson is the clear leader for QB2. Unless he gets hurt again, he will probably deserve that spot, if only because Riley Leonard has been a disappointment in training camp and the preseason for the Indianapolis Colts.
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