Richardson and Leonard get final first-team chance in Colts backup QB battle
Anthony Richardson will start Saturday’s preseason finale against Detroit and play the first quarter before Riley Leonard takes the second. Shane Steichen has not selected Daniel Jones’ backup.
AUG 27, 2026
Quarterbacks competing
Leonard throws Thursday
Jones throws Thursday
01 · The NewsWhat Happened
Colts coach Shane Steichen said Thursday that Indianapolis has not decided on its No. 2 quarterback, giving Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard first-team reps before Saturday’s preseason finale against Detroit. Richardson will start the game and play the first quarter, then Leonard will take the second quarter. Both quarterbacks worked with the No. 1 offense during Thursday’s practice. Richardson opened with a completion to Coleman Owen, misfired on his next two throws, and took a practice sack from Laiatu Latu. He stayed in the play after coaches told him to continue and finished it with a touchdown throw to Owen in the back of the end zone. Richardson then completed four of his final five attempts, including a fourth-down touchdown to tight end JJ Galbreath. He also threw red-zone touchdowns to Anthony Gould and Deion Burks. Leonard completed 4 of 8 attempts, took a practice sack from Latu, and missed several throws. He ended his first period with a touchdown pass to Gould over the middle.
02 · The StakesWhy This One Matters
The decision is not only about which quarterback produces the cleaner Saturday stat line. It is about who can keep the offense on schedule when the first read is covered and the pocket begins to compress. Richardson’s Thursday period included early misses, but his later completions and red-zone throws showed a more productive finish. Leonard’s period included a touchdown to Gould, but his tendency to hold the ball gave the defense time to close around him. Colby Wooden recorded a practice sack of Leonard and another of Easton Stick, while the interior defensive group created pressure throughout the session. That matters because the second quarterback will not get a protected evaluation every week. The backup has to identify pressure, make the protection adjustment, and deliver before the rush arrives. The Colts also need the second unit to function without the rhythm created by regular first-team repetitions. Saturday will provide the clearest comparison because each quarterback is scheduled to work with the same starting offense and against a live opponent. Richardson’s evaluation centers on accuracy and consistency after the first mistake. Leonard’s centers on timing and pocket decisions before the rush turns a manageable down into a negative play.
03 · The Detail Beneath the HeadlineWhat Most People Are Missing
Steichen has not identified a winner, and the practice results do not settle the competition. Richardson’s final five throws were stronger than his opening sequence, while Leonard’s touchdown to Gould showed the downfield playmaking Indianapolis wants to see. The order of the reps, the protection calls, and the quality of the Lions’ defensive looks will provide context that a completion total cannot.
“Jones had taken every first-team offensive snap in training camp until Thursday, when Indianapolis gave the two competitors his reps.”
The Wire Desk04 · The PersonnelWhat Changes Now
Saturday becomes the final direct comparison before Indianapolis assigns the backup role. Richardson will have the first quarter, giving him the opening opportunity to command the offense and respond to Detroit’s initial defensive plan. Leonard will take the second quarter, when the game will have developed its own pace and the defensive rotation may change the pictures he sees. The Colts can evaluate more than completions. They can watch whether Richardson gets the offense aligned, whether Leonard releases the ball on time, and whether either quarterback turns pressure into a checkdown rather than a stalled drive. The red-zone work from Thursday also matters because both players produced touchdown throws in tight areas. Gould caught a scoring pass from each quarterback during the practice periods, while Owen, Galbreath, and Burks also received touchdown throws from Richardson. Those plays show that the passing game can create opportunities with both quarterbacks. They do not answer who protects the football, handles the operation, and gives the staff the most dependable second unit over a full season.
05 · The ChessboardWhat the Coaches Can Actually Change
Indianapolis can shape the second-team offense around the quarterback who wins the job. If Richardson is selected, the staff can use his mobility to change the launch point, move the pocket, and create additional stress on the edge while keeping the passing menu manageable. If Leonard wins, the offense can emphasize defined reads, quicker throws, and protection structures that reduce the time he has to hold the ball. Neither approach removes the need for accurate throws against coverage. The offensive line also has to give the winner enough time to show whether the decision-making has improved. Thursday’s pressure from Latu and Wooden demonstrated how quickly a practice period can expose hesitation. The staff may also weigh how each quarterback communicates with the second unit, because the backup will spend most of the season preparing without the first-team rhythm Jones has established. The competition is therefore a quarterback evaluation and a roster-design decision at the same time.
06 · Honest ScaleWhat Happens Next
Jones had taken every first-team offensive snap in training camp until Thursday, when Indianapolis gave the two competitors his reps. He completed 3 of 4 passes in his only practice period, connecting twice with Keenan Allen and once with Mo Alie-Cox despite tight coverage. Jones also threw an interception on fourth-and-goal after failing to find an open receiver. His day was a planned opening for the competition, not an indication that the starting job is unsettled. Richardson and Leonard now have one preseason game to separate themselves. The next named checkpoint is Saturday’s finale against Detroit, with Richardson scheduled for the first quarter and Leonard for the second. Steichen’s decision will follow that comparison, but the timing of the announcement has not been given. Alec Pierce also returned to practice after being activated from the physically unable to perform list, adding another receiver to the evaluation around the quarterback battle.
07 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching
Richardson’s opening quarter
His first quarter against Detroit will show whether the late-practice improvement carries into a game setting, especially after the first incompletion.
Leonard’s release timing
The second quarter will show whether Leonard gets the ball out earlier when the pocket compresses and the defense brings interior pressure.
The decision date
Steichen has not announced when he will name Jones’ backup. The next confirmed evaluation point is Saturday’s preseason finale.