CINCINNATI — Anthony Richardson was waiting for Riley Leonard when the Colts rookie quarterback got back to the locker room at halftime.
Leonard was elated, riding an emotional high after ripping through Cincinnati’s defense for 15 completions in 20 attempts, 189 yards and a gorgeous 59-yard touchdown to Laquon Treadwell.
Richardson was holding out a football for him.
Leonard didn’t take it right away. At first, he couldn’t figure out why Richardson was trying to give him a football.
The first touchdown pass of Leonard’s NFL career.
“It didn’t even cross my mind to keep the football,” Leonard said. “That meant a lot to me. It’s my dad’s birthday, so I’m going to give it to him.”
The preseason finale falling on Aug. 23 provided a full-circle moment for the Leonard family.
Leonard does not remember his father, Chad, ever missing one of his son’s games, and Saturday’s 41-14 win over the Bengals was a big one.
Not because it carried high stakes like Leonard’s appearance in the national title game for Notre Dame last season, and not because it will play a crucial role in the fate of the 2025 Colts.
The game was big for Leonard because it’s a sign he belongs. Drafted in the sixth round as a potential developmental backup, Leonard opened training camp trading snaps with second-year passer Jason Bean for the No. 3 role, a spot he fully assumed a week or two into training camp.
“He’s a grinder, loves ball, is always working and studying the game,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said. “This was an opportunity for him to go out in the first half and see what he could do with those guys.”
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Leonard played a starring role.
Uncertain and inaccurate at times early in training camp, Leonard has become more confident with each passing week, developing as a quarterback by learning to let go.
“Overall, I think I grew most in not caring and letting it fly,” Leonard said. “Sometimes in the past, I think I put too much pressure on myself to be perfect. Luckily, I’m in a situation now where Daniel (Jones) and Anthony are getting most of the first and second reps, and I’ve got nothing to lose.”
Leonard had little to lose against the Bengals.
The Colts named Jones the starter earlier this week, announced Richardson as the backup and decided to hold most of their starters out of the finale, trying to manage an injury list that ballooned through the first two preseason games.
Cincinnati likewise held out most of its starters, creating a game full of players trying to make one last impression in a bid to make the roster.
“A lot of times during practice, the ones and twos will go get water, and it’s our time to go have fun and perform in practice,” Leonard said. “Fortunately, today we kind of had the show to ourselves.”
Leonard let it rip.
The Colts rookie marched the offense 56 yards in 11 plays for a field goal to start the game, shook off a couple of ugly drives and hit his stride midway through the second quarter, putting together back-to-back touchdown drives with a gorgeous 59-yard throw to veteran wide receiver Laquon Treadwell to finish off his half of action with a 24-7 lead.
“We knew we were hunting quarters (coverage) to throw that post,” Leonard said. “Your eyes just light up. It’s one of those plays where you drop back and know what you’re getting, all you have to do is not get sacked before he gets enough time to run the post.”
And lay out a beautiful ball.
Leonard obliged by tossing an incredible rainbow to Treadwell for the score. The 30-year-old veteran has been an excellent mentor for Leonard throughout training camp, helping him see the NFL game through a veteran’s eyes.
“When you ask receivers if they are open, a lot of them will tell you they are, every single time,” Leonard said. “He’s very good at communicating and being honest.”
Leonard likely has earned himself a spot on the 53-man roster. NFL rules allow teams to designate a third quarterback on the 53-man roster as an emergency quarterback, a player who will come into the game if the top two get hurt. Sam Ehlinger spent most of his four years in Indianapolis playing that role; Ehlinger’s departure in free agency opened up the spot, although Steichen was noncommittal in advance of the team’s roster cuts from 90 players to 53.
“We’re looking through all that stuff,” Steichen said, although Leonard admittedly caught his eye. “He was moving the ball up the field, accurate. … I thought it was impressive.”
Leonard briefly had to go back into the game late in the fourth quarter after an injury to Bean.
But Leonard was clearly ecstatic with the way he played. All smiles on the way off the field, Leonard stopped in the tunnel to sign autographs for a few kids, beckoning a few to throw down their markers and Notre Dame hats for him to sign, then launching them back into the stands before turning to sprint into the locker room.
“I had to remind myself before the game that this is why you play,” Leonard said. “You play to have fun. Just try to go back to being the little kid in the backyard, because when you get to this stage, there are a lot of things that can overwhelm you.”
Leonard didn’t look overwhelmed on Saturday.
The rookie looked right at home.
Joel A. Erickson covers the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.