Colts name Anthony Richardson Sr. to start first preseason game vs. Patriots, Riley Leonard to open vs. Falcons

The Indianapolis Colts’ first look at their quarterback rotation is taking shape for the preseason. In advance of the opener, head coach Shane Steichen said Daniel Jones will not play in at least the Colts’ first two preseason games, setting up Anthony Richardson Sr. as the starting quarterback in the team’s preseason opener against the New England Patriots.

According to the team’s announcement, Richardson Sr. will receive the first start in the exhibition opener and will play an entire half. The Colts framed that game plan as a chance for their coaches to evaluate the offense with a quarterback running the starter reps through a full scripted portion of a game environment.

Steichen then outlined a second-week opening plan. Riley Leonard is expected to start in the Colts’ preseason game versus the Atlanta Falcons, also with the goal of playing an entire half. That structure gives the Colts a direct comparison across two quarterbacks while keeping the starter workload contained during exhibition contests.

The decision to keep Jones on the sideline for the first two preseason appearances is also significant for how Indianapolis plans to manage its quarterback group. Preseason snaps often serve as a bridge between the offseason and the regular season, and with Jones not participating early, the Colts’ first televised or public-facing QB evaluation window belongs to the two players named by the coaching staff.

For the Patriots, the matchup provides a first-round chessboard look at the Colts’ offensive identity under a quarterback designated as the starter for a full half. For New England, it also means preparing defensive game plans for Richardson Sr.’s style and timing rather than reacting to Jones’ approach during the earliest Colts exhibition reps.

The Falcons contest, likewise, becomes a second checkpoint for the Colts’ offensive execution. Leonard’s half of work is an opportunity for the coaching staff to assess rhythm, decision-making, and how the first-team offense functions against Atlanta’s defensive looks across another game week.

The Colts’ preseason approach also matters for the broader roster, because the quarterback rotation influences how wide receivers, tight ends, and offensive linemen build chemistry during the limited timeframe teams have in exhibitions. Even without full-game participation for the quarterbacks, the team’s stated intent to play entire halves suggests Indianapolis is prioritizing sustained stretches of continuity rather than fragmented reps.

With the starters set for the first two preseason games, the next items to watch are how each quarterback handles the opening drive responsibilities, how the offense produces on a sustained sequence of plays, and whether the Colts’ first-half gameplans translate into consistent production against two different opponents in back-to-back exhibition opportunities.