Just under a year ago, Riley Leonard packed his bags and made the move from Notre Dame to the NFL after being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the NFL draft.
Leonard was expected to be Indy’s third-string quarterback, but by the end of the year, he was their Week 18 starter. The 23-year-old was forced to fill in for an injured Daniel Jones in Week 14 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and although he showed promise, the Colts didn’t trust him enough to hand him the keys.
Leonard was relegated to backup duties after the Colts signed 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of retirement, but heading into Year 2, the Colts must consider using Leonard as the second stringer. Here are three reasons why Leonard deserves Indy’s QB2 spot in 2026.
He Looked Comfortable in Two Appearances