Colts rookie QB Riley Leonard’s performance in his first preseason game

Colts Quarterbacks Experience Ups and Downs in Preseason Game

It was quite a night for Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks, especially for rookie sixth-round pick Riley Leonard.

Leonard, along with his fellow Notre Dame quarterback, got his first taste of NFL action on Thursday during the Colts’ 24-16 preseason loss to the Ravens. Anthony Richardson left the game early with a dislocated pinky finger, while Daniel Jones had a mixed performance in the first half before contributing later in the game.

Leonard finished the night completing 12 out of 24 passes for 92 yards, although he did throw one interception. On a more positive note, he also scrambled for 34 yards, leading to a touchdown on his second possession.

In next week’s game against the Packers, it’ll be interesting to see how head coach Shane Steichen handles the quarterback rotation, especially with Richardson’s injury lingering over the team.

“He’s fine,” Steichen commented about Richardson, as noted on the Colts’ official site. “It’s a dislocation. They popped out of it again. Let’s see what happens.”

Richardson, who was the Colts’ fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, is vying for the starting role against Jones, who recently signed a one-year contract with the Colts.

The injury for Richardson occurred just eight minutes into the game following a hit from Ravens linebacker David Ojabo. “He hit me, and then I was just trying to make sure I had the ball. I looked down and saw my finger bent the wrong way. It was a little shocking,” he recounted.

As for Jones, he managed to record an interception along with a touchdown for 21 completions on 144 yards. “Some plays were good, some not so much. I felt good at times, but a few missteps kept us from finishing strong,” he said after the game.

On a brighter note, there was a positive update regarding Richardson on Friday. ESPN reported that he returned to practice the following Saturday after receiving a negative X-ray during halftime on Thursday.