The starting quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts is known. Daniel Jones is back and appears to be at full strength. Nothing in the preseason is going to change that. Many starters’ roles are safe, but NFL teams are comprised of 53 players. Depth is needed behind those starters, and the preseason is the best opportunity to rise to the top and claim a role on a team. That is exactly why this Thursday could prove pivotal in the race to be the backup quarterback.
One quarterback’s stock is high. Coming
off an encouraging performance in Week 18 against the Texans, fans were buzzing about Riley Leonard, wishing they had gotten to see more of what he could do. The rookie impressed, but Houston wasn’t exactly putting their best foot forward. What we saw might not translate into real game action. Remember Sam Ehlinger, the preseason king? Who isn’t going to look better against backups? Nevertheless, seeing Leonard put on a show in the first preseason game will give him a definite edge towards the backup role.
The other quarterback’s stock couldn’t be lower. A former fourth overall pick who can’t stay healthy and was on the trade block all offseason has plenty to prove. Anthony Richardson is on the comeback trail. That’s a long hard road. He fell from grace and will have to be twice as good as Leonard for consideration. He has to win back the trust of Shane Steichen, his teammates, and the fans. That won’t be easy, but it’s certainly possible. He has to impress on Thursday against the Patriots, or this might be the end. Will he get more reps as the preseason continues? Sure, but it might be too little too late.
Is Thursday the end-all-be-all for either quarterback in the race to be Daniel Jones’ backup? Maybe not. You can bet, however, that Shane Steichen is going into this game with an idea of who he prefers. A bad performance from Riley Leonard or a stellar one from Anthony Richardson could create room for doubt. If neither bucks the current trend, look for Leonard to maintain his position in the driver’s seat.
