Riley Leonard just changed the temperature in Indianapolis. The rookie quarterback, drafted in the sixth round and slotted as a developmental arm, took real NFL snaps in Week 14 and looked ready for the moment. Under the brightest lights of his young career, he delivered a 16 play scoring march that settled the sideline and sent a clear message. He belongs.
Who Riley Leonard is now
Leonard stepped in because the Colts needed a steady hand. Daniel Jones is out with a torn Achilles. Anthony Richardson remains sidelined with a facial fracture. On Sunday against Jacksonville, the rookie’s job was simple. Keep the offense on schedule. Do not blink.
He did exactly that. Leonard completed 6 of 10 passes for 46 yards on that 64 yard drive, posted a 71.3 passer rating for the series, and got points. The ball came out on time. His eyes stayed calm. He used his legs when needed, then reset and threw with balance. The huddle felt guided, not rushed.
This is the kind of drive that earns trust. Teammates feel it. Coaches see it. A locker room knows when a young quarterback is composed.
One poised scoring drive can change a depth chart in December. Leonard just put his foot in that door.
From Notre Dame leader to Colts rookie
Leonard was never a mystery to football people. He transferred from Duke to Notre Dame in 2024 and exploded as a dual threat. He completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,861 yards with 21 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. He rushed for 906 yards and 17 more scores. The Irish reached the College Football Playoff title game with Leonard setting the tone.
The Colts saw upside and patience in his game. They selected him 189th overall in April and signed him to a four year rookie deal in May. He entered camp as QB3, a long view play for a staff that values mobility, decision making, and toughness. In the final preseason game, he went 15 of 20 for 189 yards and a touchdown. It was clean work, the kind that sticks in a coach’s mind.
Indianapolis planned to let Leonard grow. The season had other plans. Now the traits that made him a smart investment matter in real time.
Leonard wins with timing, pocket poise, and plus mobility. That matches what Shane Steichen asks of his quarterbacks.
What his game brings to Steichen’s offense
This scheme favors quick answers and yards after the catch. It also features designed movement, RPOs, and vertical shots when safeties creep. Leonard fits that menu. He is comfortable on keepers and boot action. He throws on the move with square shoulders. He protects the ball when the first read is muddy, then finds the checkdown. That is how you survive a first start, and how you build a second one.
To sustain Sunday’s spark, these keys matter most:
- Lean on tempo, light the play clock and stress base looks
- Marry the run game with keepers, widen the flats, and hunt crossers
- Take the free access throws, then hit a deep shot off play action
- Protect in six or seven man looks on money downs, let the kid operate
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What it means for the Colts playoff push
The Colts have a decision to make at quarterback. Jones is done for the year. Richardson is still healing. Leonard is healthy, confident, and now battle tested. There is a path where he holds the job for as long as he keeps the offense efficient. There is also a plan where he bridges to Richardson, then becomes the long term No. 2 or a future challenger. December answers those questions. Practice reps and game tape decide everything.
There is also a cultural layer here. Notre Dame quarterbacks who win command a unique following in the Midwest. That travels to Lucas Oil Stadium. The locker room embraces grinders who run and hit. Leonard is that type. He smiles in the huddle, then lowers a shoulder for a first down. It plays in this building.
Rookie quarterbacks ride waves. Protect him, stay on schedule, and the floor stays high. Ask him to play hero ball, and the learning curve bites back.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Did Riley Leonard lead a scoring drive in Week 14?
A: Yes. He led a 16 play, 64 yard drive and the Colts scored. He went 6 for 10 for 46 yards on the series.
Q: Why did Leonard play?
A: Daniel Jones suffered a torn Achilles, and Anthony Richardson is sidelined with a facial fracture. Leonard became the healthy option.
Q: What is Leonard’s background?
A: He starred at Notre Dame in 2024 with 2,861 passing yards and 906 rushing yards. The Colts drafted him 189th overall in 2025.
Q: How does his style fit the Colts offense?
A: It fits well. He runs RPO concepts, throws on the move, and handles quick game rhythm throws.
Q: Will he start next week?
A: The Colts are weighing their options. Leonard has earned serious consideration based on poise and fit.
The headline tonight is simple. A sixth round rookie just looked ready for the job. If the Colts lean into Riley Leonard’s strengths, the offense can stay on time and stay dangerous. December is about trust. Right now, Leonard is earning it play by play.
