The Indianapolis Colts are heading into the final stretch of preseason without a clear answer for who backs up starting QB Daniel Jones. Head Coach Shane Steichen isn’t sugarcoating it either, telling Nathan Brown of the Indy Star on Thursday, “I don’t have a timetable on that.” That’s a pretty wild statement for this deep into August, right? With only a couple of weeks left before things get real, you’d think they’d have a firm plan, especially with their main guy sitting out.
The Scramble for Number Two
This isn’t some minor league battle, folks. The Colts have a real competition brewing between Anthony Richardson, their first-round pick from 2023, and Riley Leonard, who they snagged in the sixth round just last year in 2025. Steichen is sticking to his guns, letting this whole thing play out over “two more weeks” of practices and the upcoming preseason game. He’s saying it’s been a “fair competition,” which sounds good on paper, but when your starter isn’t even seeing the field, you want a solid contingency plan locked in. They can’t afford to just wing it when the regular season kicks off, especially not with a relatively unproven starter. This backup spot is crucial.
The Saturday Showdown and Steichen’s Take
So, how are they handling this undecided situation? This Saturday, Riley Leonard gets the nod to lead the second-team offense through the first half. Then, Richardson takes over with the third team in the second half. It’s a flip from last week, when Richardson started. With Daniel Jones still sidelined and not expected to play at all in preseason, these reps are absolutely critical for both Richardson and Leonard. This is their shot to prove they can be the guy if Jones goes down. Steichen admitted, “I thought they both had a good camp. I mean, there were some ups and downs, but I think you saw flashes of both of them, which was really exciting.” “Flashes” are great for highlights, but a dependable backup needs consistency, especially when the games start to count. You want more than just “exciting flashes” when your starter is out!
What’s Next for Indy?
The clock is ticking for the Colts to figure this out. They’ve got one more preseason game, more practices, and then it’s go time. With Daniel Jones staying on the sidelines, having a reliable second stringer is everything. Richardson and Leonard still have a shot to prove their worth this Saturday. For Colts fans, they’ve got to be hoping someone steps up big time because uncertainty at backup QB isn’t how you want to roll into the season. Let’s see who seizes the moment.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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