Colts head coach Shane Steichen shared the plan for the quarterback position in the third and final preseason game against the Bengals on Saturday.
Neither new starter Daniel Jones nor backup Anthony Richardson Sr. will play at all, according to Steichen. Richardson, who’s in desperate need of NFL reps in order to develop, will be held out.
“He’s one play away from going in an actual game,” Steichen said on Thursday. “We don’t want to take a risk there.”
Instead, rookie Riley Leonard and second-year passer Jason Bean will split reps. Leonard will start the game and play the entire first half while Bean will take over in the second half.
Leonard has played in both preseason games up to this point. While he’s shown some impressive flashes, he still has a long way to go before becoming a viable backup option in the NFL. Through two games so far, Leonard is 19-for-36 for 156 yards and an interception.
Bean, on the other hand, has played sparingly this summer. His only action was on the final drive of Indy’s 23-19 loss to the Packers. On that drive, Bean completed his first three passes consecutively but missed on his last four attempts, including a pass which was caught at the pylon for a touchdown by Jelani Woods, only for the officials to rule Woods out of bounds before he had control of the football.
The Colts typically roster just three quarterbacks, and while Leonard is likely the third option behind Jones and Richardson, Bean will have a chance to prove that he’s worth being a part of that conversation. Otherwise, a practice squad spot may have his name on it.