Who is it- Jones or Leonard as 2026 starter?

[ChoppedWood]

We know barring some crazy unexpected out of thin air surprise, the starter next year is either DJ or RL.

Let's assume DJ recovery goes well and he is on target to be a go for TC (given what we see on a traditional curve- he could be ready but would probably be what- 85% to start camp and would probably not really reach 100% until several games in).

So, air it out, why is one the choice over the other? I think this has to be a serious question now. They are very similar QB's- which I think is why we took Leonard to begin with to allow us to keep playing the same game if there was an injury (why we didn't stick to that- that's an answer which will forever be buried in Shane's closet...).

Both are smart obviously given their college backgrounds. Both are mobile (DJ clearly won't be as much as he was for the majority of next year). Both seem to be well versed in the system. Leonard has at no point seemed lost and struggling to understand what is happening and what to do. Both appear to be hard workers who you won't have to worry about them not doing the work necessary to constantly get better.

The question to me is whether or not what we saw from RL working in the pocket, is a mirage? He showed me more from the pocket today than I saw at Duke and ND combined. But it was only one game. Can he keep doing that? To me that is the only real question because barring that, I give him the ball over an older and a rehabbing QB.

Incredible this is a real topic, but it absolutely is.

[apballin]

I’d go with Leonard, he’s younger more athletic and should grow and get better as he gains experience.

Jones is what he is he’s not gonna get better and coming off an Achilles injury he’s gonna lose mobility not to mention probably be hesitant to run at all.

To me the ultimate deciding factor is the contract situation of both

A core of Pierce, Warren, and Leonard is what I’d go with

[Racehorse]

Hard to say which route to go, eight months out. I will say SS did an amazing job making a sixth round QB look serviceable. Maybe we let them compete in TC next year, and whoever is the best option starts the season with the other ready to step in as needed. Not a bad situation to be in.

[Hoopsdoc]

If Jones is ready week one, he’s the starter. Let Leonard keep learning.

Odds are Jones will get injured again(he’s only ever started a full season once in his career) and Leonard will play anyway.

Release or trade AR.

[apballin]

Originally Posted by Hoopsdoc

If Jones is ready week one, he’s the starter. Let Leonard keep learning.

Odds are Jones will get injured again(he’s only ever started a full season once in his career) and Leonard will play anyway.

Release or trade AR.

I agree with this, but I’ll go on record right now and say if Jones gets hurt and they turn to Leonard I think Leonard will keep the job after that

[Puck]

Easy answer for me. Its Jones. Riley did very well. Much better that I expected

But don't forget. There was no film on RL except for the half against Jax Teams will figure him out.

The QB position is mental. That is why AR doesnt excel. He just doesn't have football knowledge yet. While I will say Riley is ahead of AR in that department they are both far far behind DJ.

I would expect that AR gets moved in the offseason and Riley will be QB 2. And if DJ is not quite ready he will start the season until DJ gets back

[Hoopsdoc]

Originally Posted by Puck

Easy answer for me. Its Jones. Riley did very well. Much better that I expected

But don't forget. There was no film on RL except for the half against Jax Teams will figure him out.

The QB position is mental. That is why AR doesnt excel. He just doesn't have football knowledge yet. While I will say Riley is ahead of AR in that department they are both far far behind DJ.

I would expect that AR gets moved in the offseason and Riley will be QB 2. And if DJ is not quite ready he will start the season until DJ gets back

I agree that Leonard is far from being a good player yet. He’s got a LONG way to go.

But I REALLY liked what I saw today. He played with poise, awareness, and confidence. He is certainly no checkdown Charlie. He seemed to be fearless back there. He also has good pocket presence and was surprisingly accurate.

I don’t know if he’ll ever amount to anything but if he doesn’t, it won’t be because he doesn’t believe in himself. He and Pierce absolutely torched the Texans in the first half.

It was fun to watch.

[Lov2fish]

If Jones is ready, and signed of course you definitely go with Jones. Riley showed me he is not afraid of the moment. You can tell he thought he should be out there. If Jones is not ready week one I would not hesitate to put Leonard in there.

He answered a lot of questions for me today. I wasn't sure what I expected. As a homer I guess I was hoping he would flat out kick ass, but I was not disappointed at all. I would have still rather we went with him when Jones went down. He played well enough to get the shot in relief of Jones. That stupid smoke and mirrors shit with Rivers was asinine

[Colts And Orioles]

o


The Colts Can’t Afford to Trade Anthony Richardson, Not After Riley Leonard’s Dud vs. The Falcons

(By James Boyd)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/753...eason-falcons/



INDIANAPOLIS — All Riley Leonard could do was shake his head. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback had just fumbled the snap in the 2nd quarter of Saturday’s eventual 34-6 pre-season loss against the Atlanta Falcons, and his frustration was evident. Fortunately for Leonard, he recovered the loose ball and even plunged forward for a 2-yard gain. Unfortunately, that was far from his only miscue in what’s been a growing theme.

“There’s a big difference in this league, (between) not being able to (perform well), and you can, but you just don’t execute,” Leonard said. “I know that I can execute at a high level. I feel like I’ve shown that before ...... it just didn’t happen (Saturday.)”

For the 2nd straight week, Leonard struggled to lead the Colts offense. The 2nd-year pro had the opportunity to start, flip-flopping from last week when Anthony Richardson started and put together a strong performance, but Leonard couldn’t hold serve. The 2025 6th-round pick finished Saturday 7-of-14 passing for 62 yards. 39 of those yards came on a crosser to Coleman Owen on the Colts’ second drive. Otherwise, Leonard’s inconsistency did little to help him gain ground, as he and Richardson compete for the back-up role behind starter Daniel Jones.

Instead, Leonard’s latest showing proved one thing ...... that the Colts can’t afford to trade Richardson, even if he still wants out.

“We want to have 3 QB's who can play,” Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds said earlier this week. “So, if Richardson is one of them, he’s going to be here.”

To be fair, Richardson wasn’t exactly a star on Saturday. In fact, he came back down to earth in a big way after a stellar outing last week. The 2023 No. 4 pick finished 3-of-9 passing for 24 yards, adding 3 carries for 15 yards, as he and Leonard both failed to lead a TD drive against the Falcons. Still, the larger point remains that since neither quarterback has separated himself from the other, it doesn’t make sense to trade Richardson, presumably for a Day 3 draft pick, and hand the 2nd-string job to Leonard.

“If they truly believe that I still have a chance to be on this squad, then I’d love that,” Richardson said. “I just want to be able to contribute, put my best foot forward, and just help the team win.”

Keep in mind that Jones, who established himself as the Colts’ unquestioned leader after playing at a Pro Bowl-caliber level when he was healthy last year, is returning from a torn right Achilles tendon. Jones has shown no signs of ever being injured, but he also hasn’t played a full season since 2022. If that holds true again in 2026, it may behoove the Colts to keep Richardson around.

The 4th-year pro is 8-7 as a starter, compared to 0-1 for Leonard. Of course, Richardson’s experience is also accompanied by his well-documented struggles. He’s thrown 11 TD's against 13 INT's, though his 10 rushing TD's suggest that his legs could make him the superior backup option in a pinch.

Colts coach Shane Steichen said earlier this week that he’s not in a rush to decide on the team’s QB-2 ...... but if he has any takeaway from Saturday’s match-up with the Falcons, it should be that although Richardson is no longer Indianapolis’s starter, trading him is probably be a non-starter.

“I think that there was some good, but there’s a lot that we need to improve on,” Steichen said of Indianapolis’s reserve QB's.


Grupe's Big Miss


Blake Grupe appeared to have taken the lead this offseason in the Colts’ kicking competition, drilling 41 of his 45 field goal attempts in training camp. Spencer Shrader, meanwhile, is 32 of 46. However, in Indianapolis’s 2 pre-season games, Shrader has clearly outperformed his challenger.

Shrader drilled a 48-yarder and 53-yarder in the 1st quarter Saturday, while Grupe missed a 36-yarder in the 4th quarter. Grupe is now 0-of-2 on field goal attempts in the pre-season, compared to 4-of-4 for Shrader.

“I think that the evaluation is ongoing,” Steichen said. “Both of those guys are starting kickers in this league, so it’s going to be a big decision for us.”


Allen's NFL Debut


CJ Allen made his pre-season NFL debut on Saturday, but he did not start. The Colts’ 2nd-round rookie came in as a reserve behind Austin Ajiake and Jaylon Carlies, and totaled 3 tackles. Allen missed time throughout training camp due to calf and hamstring injuries, and as it stands now, it does not appear that he will be a surefire starter in Week 1.

In the last few training camp practices, the Colts’ starting linebackers were veteran Akeem Davis-Gaither, who did not play on Saturday along with a few other starters, and 2024 5th-round pick Jaylon Carlies ...... Allen has rotated in mostly with the 2nd-stringers. Steichen said that it was encouraging to see Allen play because he can glean more from being on the field than taking “mental reps.”

“It’s definitely tough, but that’s part of the game, Allen said of trying to get reacclimated. “I think that that’s part of just being a pro, having to learn how to adapt to those things and not letting it be an excuse or anything like that.”


Tuimoloau Still a Non-Factor


After a quiet rookie season in which he didn’t start or record a sack, Jaylahn Tuimoloau continues to be a non-factor this summer. The 2025 2nd-round pick started on Saturday and played a handful of series, but he failed to record a stat. In fact, when Atlanta running back Tyler Goodson, who played for the Colts last year, broke free for a 49-yard TD run in the 1st quarter, Tuimoloau and Allen were 2 of the players he zoomed past.

Steichen said that Tuimoloau has “played well” throughout the pre-season, but from the outside looking in, it sounds like the coach is just trying to protect his young player from further criticism.


The Back-Up O-Line Struggles


Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson rarely had clean pockets on Saturday thanks ...... or rather no thanks ...... to Indianapolis’s leaky back-up offensive line. Left tackle Blake Freeland, center Josh Kreutz, and right tackle Josh Sills, who played left guard last week, particularly struggled against the Falcons.

Their performance was a stark reminder of the Colts’ lack of quality offensive line depth. Fortunately, Indianapolis’s starters have played all but one snap together during training camp, but it’s fair to wonder how the unit will hold up if one of the top guys goes down.

o

[ChoppedWood]

Originally Posted by Colts And Orioles

o


The Colts Can’t Afford to Trade Anthony Richardson, Not After Riley Leonard’s Dud vs. The Falcons

(By James Boyd)

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/753...eason-falcons/



INDIANAPOLIS — All Riley Leonard could do was shake his head. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback had just fumbled the snap in the 2nd quarter of Saturday’s eventual 34-6 pre-season loss against the Atlanta Falcons, and his frustration was evident. Fortunately for Leonard, he recovered the loose ball and even plunged forward for a 2-yard gain. Unfortunately, that was far from his only miscue in what’s been a growing theme.

“There’s a big difference in this league, (between) not being able to (perform well), and you can, but you just don’t execute,” Leonard said. “I know that I can execute at a high level. I feel like I’ve shown that before ...... it just didn’t happen (Saturday.)”

For the 2nd straight week, Leonard struggled to lead the Colts offense. The 2nd-year pro had the opportunity to start, flip-flopping from last week when Anthony Richardson started and put together a strong performance, but Leonard couldn’t hold serve. The 2025 6th-round pick finished Saturday 7-of-14 passing for 62 yards. 39 of those yards came on a crosser to Coleman Owen on the Colts’ second drive. Otherwise, Leonard’s inconsistency did little to help him gain ground, as he and Richardson compete for the back-up role behind starter Daniel Jones.

Instead, Leonard’s latest showing proved one thing ...... that the Colts can’t afford to trade Richardson, even if he still wants out.

“We want to have 3 QB's who can play,” Colts assistant general manager Ed Dodds said earlier this week. “So, if Richardson is one of them, he’s going to be here.”

To be fair, Richardson wasn’t exactly a star on Saturday. In fact, he came back down to earth in a big way after a stellar outing last week. The 2023 No. 4 pick finished 3-of-9 passing for 24 yards, adding 3 carries for 15 yards, as he and Leonard both failed to lead a TD drive against the Falcons. Still, the larger point remains that since neither quarterback has separated himself from the other, it doesn’t make sense to trade Richardson, presumably for a Day 3 draft pick, and hand the 2nd-string job to Leonard.

“If they truly believe that I still have a chance to be on this squad, then I’d love that,” Richardson said. “I just want to be able to contribute, put my best foot forward, and just help the team win.”

Keep in mind that Jones, who established himself as the Colts’ unquestioned leader after playing at a Pro Bowl-caliber level when he was healthy last year, is returning from a torn right Achilles tendon. Jones has shown no signs of ever being injured, but he also hasn’t played a full season since 2022. If that holds true again in 2026, it may behoove the Colts to keep Richardson around.

The 4th-year pro is 8-7 as a starter, compared to 0-1 for Leonard. Of course, Richardson’s experience is also accompanied by his well-documented struggles. He’s thrown 11 TD's against 13 INT's, though his 10 rushing TD's suggest that his legs could make him the superior backup option in a pinch.

Colts coach Shane Steichen said earlier this week that he’s not in a rush to decide on the team’s QB-2 ...... but if he has any takeaway from Saturday’s match-up with the Falcons, it should be that although Richardson is no longer Indianapolis’s starter, trading him is probably be a non-starter.

“I think that there was some good, but there’s a lot that we need to improve on,” Steichen said of Indianapolis’s reserve QB's.


Grupe's Big Miss


Blake Grupe appeared to have taken the lead this offseason in the Colts’ kicking competition, drilling 41 of his 45 field goal attempts in training camp. Spencer Shrader, meanwhile, is 32 of 46. However, in Indianapolis’s 2 pre-season games, Shrader has clearly outperformed his challenger.

Shrader drilled a 48-yarder and 53-yarder in the 1st quarter Saturday, while Grupe missed a 36-yarder in the 4th quarter. Grupe is now 0-of-2 on field goal attempts in the pre-season, compared to 4-of-4 for Shrader.

“I think that the evaluation is ongoing,” Steichen said. “Both of those guys are starting kickers in this league, so it’s going to be a big decision for us.”


Allen's NFL Debut


CJ Allen made his pre-season NFL debut on Saturday, but he did not start. The Colts’ 2nd-round rookie came in as a reserve behind Austin Ajiake and Jaylon Carlies, and totaled 3 tackles. Allen missed time throughout training camp due to calf and hamstring injuries, and as it stands now, it does not appear that he will be a surefire starter in Week 1.

In the last few training camp practices, the Colts’ starting linebackers were veteran Akeem Davis-Gaither, who did not play on Saturday along with a few other starters, and 2024 5th-round pick Jaylon Carlies ...... Allen has rotated in mostly with the 2nd-stringers. Steichen said that it was encouraging to see Allen play because he can glean more from being on the field than taking “mental reps.”

“It’s definitely tough, but that’s part of the game, Allen said of trying to get reacclimated. “I think that that’s part of just being a pro, having to learn how to adapt to those things and not letting it be an excuse or anything like that.”


Tuimoloau Still a Non-Factor


After a quiet rookie season in which he didn’t start or record a sack, Jaylahn Tuimoloau continues to be a non-factor this summer. The 2025 2nd-round pick started on Saturday and played a handful of series, but he failed to record a stat. In fact, when Atlanta running back Tyler Goodson, who played for the Colts last year, broke free for a 49-yard TD run in the 1st quarter, Tuimoloau and Allen were 2 of the players he zoomed past.

Steichen said that Tuimoloau has “played well” throughout the pre-season, but from the outside looking in, it sounds like the coach is just trying to protect his young player from further criticism.


The Back-Up O-Line Struggles


Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson rarely had clean pockets on Saturday thanks ...... or rather no thanks ...... to Indianapolis’s leaky back-up offensive line. Left tackle Blake Freeland, center Josh Kreutz, and right tackle Josh Sills, who played left guard last week, particularly struggled against the Falcons.

Their performance was a stark reminder of the Colts’ lack of quality offensive line depth. Fortunately, Indianapolis’s starters have played all but one snap together during training camp, but it’s fair to wonder how the unit will hold up if one of the top guys goes down.

o

Not a lot wrong with that article. Leonard looks horrible- huge step backwards and looks perhaps worse than the QB he was at ND.

JTT- well it appears the curse of Ballard at the DE position has claimed another victim. That dude should not even be allowed to ever say the word defensive end or it's abbreviation for the remainder of his life, punishable by death if he does! Damn he fucking sucks at QB and DE... which just so happen to be the two most critical parts of an NFL team. Fuck Chris Ballard!