Colts Backup Quarterbacks Riley Leonard, Anthony Richardson Struggle in Loss to Falcons

INDIANAPOLIS —

The Indianapolis Colts lost 34-6 to the Atlanta Falcons at home in their second preseason game of 2026, and neither of the two players competing to serve as backup quarterback did much to help his case, according to Yahoo Sports.

Riley Leonard started and completed 7 of 14 passes for 62 yards, finishing with a passer rating of 62.2. Anthony Richardson Sr. played the second half and went 3 of 9 for 24 yards while taking two sacks, Yahoo Sports reported.

The showing was rough enough that CBS Sports put both quarterbacks on its list of NFL preseason Week 2 losers. "The backup quarterback situation is pretty bleak," CBS Sports wrote of the Colts. The outlet did note that Richardson was playing behind a struggling offensive line and got little help from his receivers, but said that did not fully excuse the performance.

A Step Back For Richardson

Richardson's night marked a drop-off from his preseason opener against the New England Patriots, when he completed 11 of 14 passes for 145 yards and added 53 rushing yards and a touchdown, according to CBS Sports. Leonard's own opener was uneven, too: he finished that game 10 of 21 for 89 yards with an interception.

The two have spent training camp fighting for the job of primary backup to starter Daniel Jones. With only one preseason game left before Indianapolis has to trim its roster, Saturday's performance did little to settle the question of who will hold that job. CBS Sports's Falcons preview also flagged an unrelated quarterback situation in Atlanta, noting that Tua Tagovailoa has yet to lock down the starting job there either, with Michael Penix Jr. now cleared for full practice work.

Bigger Concerns For Indianapolis

Yahoo Sports reported that the Colts' broader depth was a problem in the loss, not just at quarterback. The team's defense also struggled, though most of Indianapolis's starters were held out of the game, according to Yahoo Sports. Coach Shane Steichen also addressed an ongoing competition at kicker following the loss, Yahoo Sports reported, without detailing who currently holds an edge in that battle.

With roster cuts approaching before the NFL's August 30 deadline, the Colts have limited time left to sort out who backs up Jones heading into the regular season.