The Indianapolis Colts closed the preseason with a 25-16 loss to the Detroit Lions inside Lucas Oil Stadium, giving both quarterbacks vying for the backup job one final quarter in Saturday’s showcase to prove why they deserve to suit up with the horseshoe on Sundays.
Detroit certainly didn’t make things easier and controlled the finale with 356 total yards, running 75 plays while converting 13 of 19 third downs. Indianapolis was limited to just 48 plays in comparison and finished just 1-for-10 on third down.
Despite the Colts’ defense giving their offense three short fields, Indy could only score 16 points on nine true drives.
Anthony Richardson Sr. and Riley Leonard made for a fun debate over the course of the offseason leading up to training camp and through the preseason. Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, got the start with Indianapolis’ starting offensive line and worked with a unit that featured Keenan Allen making his Colts debut.
On the Colts’ second offensive play, Richardson dropped back and found Allen on a deep crosser for 24 yards to march right into Lions territory. Yes, you heard that correctly. It was Allen who caught the first pass of the game, which would actually be the Colts’ second-longest play from scrimmage. The Colts’ first two drives stalled just outside of the red zone as Blake Grupe made both of his field goals from 46-yards and 36-yards out.
The starting defensive unit needed just three plays to terminate the Lions opening drive, igniting a flurry of takeaways as the Colts forced four turnovers and seized possession inside Lions territory three times. Standout cornerback Sauce Gardner picked off Lions’ QB Luke Altmyer, trying to fit his second throw into a tight window while on the run.
It seems like each time one of the Colts’ rookie edge rushers makes a play, the other seems to make a play of his own. Whether it be in practice or the preseason games, both Caden Curry and George Gumbs Jr. have shown flashes of their ability to create havoc in the backfield or force momentum-shifting plays.
Curry, sixth-round draft pick and Greenwood Ind. native, recovered a fumble on a kickoff late in the first half. Just two plays into the second half, Gumbs stripped the ball out of the hands of Altmyer, then recovered the fumble to give the Colts reserves excellent field position.
Across 17 snaps, Richardson completed 7-of-10 passes for 80 yards and took one sack on his final snap. In three preseason games, Richardson finished 21-for-33 with 249 passing yards and one interception. The dual-threat runner added 68 rushing yards on 10 carries and one rushing touchdown with one fumble. The Colts’ offense generated 100 yards during his three possessions.
Then it was Leonard’s turn. After the Lions executed a long 16-play drive that took over eight minutes off the second-quarter game clock, Leonard had seven minutes to prove why he should earn the backup QB job. He took the opposite approach of a soft intro as he lowered his shoulder and absorbed a massive hit from former Colt linebacker Joe Bachie.
It looked bleak as the backups seemingly stalled after just passing midfield, but on fourth-and-6, Leonard stepped up in the pocket to deliver a strong throw while taking a hit, and completed a 25-yard pass on a corner to Gould. The 5-foot-9 slot receiver led the Colts with a team-high four catches for 51 receiving yards, including the longest play of the day.
Two plays later, second-year running back DJ Giddens showed patience by allowing tight end Tyler Moore to seal the edge and pancake his defender before plunging six yards into the end zone to level the score at 13-13.
For Leonard and Giddens, it was exactly the kind of drive both players really needed. Then came the other side of the evaluation, consistency. Curry recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, giving Leonard to command the offense through another opportunity from the Detroit 26.
This time, nothing developed. Leonard’s first pass fell short after pressure disrupted the pass protection from Giddens, which altered the throw. After he short-armed a bubble route on the next play, the Lions pressure arrived again to force a throw Leonard may wish he had back. The blitz caused a whiff from Giddens in pass protection, and Leonard’s throw floated into the diving hands of Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
The sixth-rounder was limited to just 12 snaps, and he probably wishes that he could erase the last four. In three preseason games, Leonard finished 20-of-42 for 199 passing yards, with two interceptions and two fumbles.
Richardson caught a rhythm with the second unit that was simply absent when Leonard was the signal caller under center. Both quarterbacks dealt with their share of errors, including Richardson securing the snaps and Leonard throwing the ball past the line of scrimmage. It is fair to say that Leonard was more consistent during training camp, but if the preseason matters at all, then Richardson clearly outperformed Leonard for the backup job.
There are just 24 hours until all 32 NFL franchises must decrease their rosters from 90 players to a final 53-man roster, by Sunday at 6 p.m. The Colts can allow a third emergency QB to suit up without having to use an active roster spot.
