Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen walks off the field
Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Indianapolis Colts finished the preseason with a 25-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, but head coach Shane Steichen still has not made a final decision on Daniel Jones' backup. With roster cutdown day approaching, Steichen said both Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard showed positive signs during Saturday's game.
“I thought Anthony had some good drives for sure and did some good things,” said Steichen. “I think Riley did some good things as well, I just obviously don't want to turn it over in the redzone.”
Indianapolis Colts' Shane Steichen On Anthony Richardson Sr., Riley Leonard After Preseason Finale pic.twitter.com/1XpJKGdUGs
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Richardson handled most of the quarterback snaps during the preseason and completed 21 of 33 passes for 249 yards across three games. Against the Lions, he went 7-for-10 for 80 yards. He also finished the preseason with one rushing touchdown, while throwing no touchdown passes, along with one fumble and one interception.
Leonard completed 20 of 42 passes for 199 yards during the preseason. On Saturday, the 2025 sixth-round pick went 3-for-7 for 48 yards. His afternoon included a scoring drive in which he connected on a couple of important passes before DJ Giddens scored on a 6-yard touchdown run.
Leonard later threw an interception on a drive that began just outside the red zone. He said afterward that the bigger issue was his inability to get his teammates properly positioned before the snap, which prevented him from creating more time to throw. The pass itself went where he intended, but he acknowledged that he missed the opportunity.
The competition has produced little separation statistically. Richardson's 21 completions on 33 attempts compare with Leonard's 20 completions on 42 attempts, while neither quarterback threw a preseason touchdown. Leonard had two interceptions.
Steichen previously said he had no timeline for naming Jones' backup before the Colts open the regular season against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13, and he would not commit to the decision being permanent once made.
Despite competing for the same job throughout the offseason, Richardson and Leonard have continued supporting each other. Richardson was among those celebrating Leonard after the touchdown drive, demonstrating the relationship between the two quarterbacks even as the competition reaches its final stage.