Riley Leonard’s Falcons showing keeps Colts’ QB2 competition from settling

Riley Leonard’s performance against the Falcons did not deliver a headline-grabbing breakthrough, but it did accomplish a more important task for the Colts this summer: it offered enough steady positives to keep the QB2 competition moving rather than ending it. According to Yahoo Sports’ breakdown, Leonard was given an opportunity to play with the second unit, and the tape produced more “keep watching” indicates than “move on now” conclusions.

The key framing from the report is that Leonard’s outing was not something to write home about. Still, it included multiple throws and plays worth analyzing, suggesting the staff saw things to build on. In a QB2 race, those incremental results matter because coaches are typically looking for a repeatable process with timing, ball placement, and decision-making, not only a single good series. The breakdown indicates Leonard’s night included enough of that to remain relevant in the depth-chart conversation.

Leonard’s chance to operate with the 2s also matters because the context is different from working with the starters. Against Atlanta, he was evaluated on how he handled live-game responsibilities, including reading the defense, sustaining drives, and managing the rhythm of an offense that is not built around his first-choice personnel. The Yahoo Sports write-up centers the idea that his performance kept the battle alive, which implies that other quarterbacks in the mix did not produce a clear, uncontested statement in the same look.

For Indianapolis, this stage of roster building is about creating clarity without forcing it prematurely. A QB2 spot is not only about arm talent; it is about whether a quarterback can run the offense cleanly, protect the ball, and give the team a chance to win when the starters are resting. The report’s emphasis on “positive signs” reflects that Leonard did not regress into obvious problems, even if the overall performance fell short of taking control of the competition.

The practical takeaway is that the Colts’ coaching staff now has more film on Leonard’s current execution level in game conditions. Even a modest outing can be valuable if it shows the quarterback understands the play and can make consistent throws within the structure of the offense. Meanwhile, the “nothing to write home about” characterization indicates that Leonard will likely need additional performances to convert staying-power into separation.

What to watch next is whether Leonard can turn the flashes into a steadier, more complete performance across multiple series, especially under the kind of pressure that tends to reveal decision-making. In QB2 battles, consistency is often the separator. If Leonard’s next outings continue to show functional command and improvement, he can move closer to owning the second spot. If not, the competition will likely remain open until deeper into the preseason.