QB2 Tossup In The Colts First Preseason Game
Today’s Game: Thursday, Aug. 13 — Preseason Week 1 vs. New England Patriots
After weeks of training camp practices, the Indianapolis Colts finally got their first opportunity to see how everything would translate into an actual game.
And all eyes were on Anthony Richardson.
It is no secret that Richardson has struggled so far during training camp. From inconsistent throws and questionable decisions to turnovers and miscommunication, the fourth-year quarterback has faced plenty of criticism throughout the summer.
But now that he was getting the entire first half to see what he could do against the Patriots' defense, the best outcome would be the reality where he could finally learn from his mistakes and play as a consistent version of himself.
Richardson certainly had his moments.
He also had his struggles.
And by the end of the night, the Colts and Patriots had played to a 13-13 tie.
Richardson Struggles, Then Responds
During the first quarter, the game was relatively quiet, with the Patriots putting up three points midway through the first quarter.
For the Colts, Richardson's night began with a mistake.
He threw an interception on a pass intended for Coleman Owen, with the football going right through Owen's hands and into the hands of the Patriots defense.
It was an unfortunate play for Richardson, but unfortunately, it was also another example of the type of inconsistency he has faced throughout his career thus far.
He would respond two drives later with a longer drive, but the Colts' offense would ultimately end the possession in an odd turnover on running back Seth McGowan's part.
McGowan reached across the goal line for what seemed like a touchdown, but the play was ultimately ruled a fumble recovered by the Patriots defense.
A mere couple plays later, after the Patriots gave the ball up by way of a punt, Richardson fumbled, giving the ball right back to New England in what was another odd call by the referee.
Though it was another frustrating moment, it is yet another example of the inconsistency Richardson has faced throughout his whole career thus far.
The problem for Richardson is that the excuses are beginning to run out.
There will always be an explanation for an individual play. A receiver can drop a pass. A defender can make a great play. A referee can make an odd call.
But eventually, Richardson has to protect himself and the football.
That remains one of the biggest things he has to figure out.
Colts Defense Holds, Then Gives Way
Defensively, the Colts routinely got the Patriots to third downs.
But the more New England ran the football, the more tired the Colts defense looked.
The Patriots continued to lean on their rushing attack, forcing Indianapolis to spend more and more time on the field.
In the goal-line stretch with under five minutes to go in the first half, the Colts gave up a touchdown to Williams with Lammons in coverage.
It was not necessarily a disastrous defensive performance, but it was also far from perfect.
The Colts repeatedly forced New England into situations where the defense should have been able to get off the field, only for the Patriots to extend drives.
That is something worth watching throughout the following preseason games.
Getting off the field on third down has to become a priority.
Richardson Gets His Moment
But in what was the perfect scenario for Richardson, the Colts faced a two-minute drill down 10 at the end of the first half.
This was the opportunity.
He nearly threw a pick in coverage, but the defender batted the ball into tight end Will Mallory's hands as he fell to the ground for a possession catch.
It was another strange play.
But this time, it went Indianapolis' way.
Then Richardson took matters into his own hands.
After a shifty seven-yard scramble by Richardson, he shot off a screen to Ulysses Bentley IV, getting it down to the 1-yard line.
Richardson took it himself and went up the middle for the eventual touchdown.
A solid response from the ever-desperate quarterback.
That is the version of Richardson the Colts want to see.
Aggressive, athletic, confident, and capable of creating something when the play breaks down.
After getting the ball back briefly, Richardson ended his stint for the Colts' first preseason game with a solid two-minute drill to set up for a missed 61-yard field goal.
There were mistakes, turnovers, questionable moments.But there was also a response.
And considering what Richardson has shown throughout training camp, that matters.
Leonard's Night Begins
After halftime, the Patriots marched down into field-goal territory and hit, after the Patriots successfully picked off quarterback Riley Leonard at Indy's 31-yard line.
Leonard's rebounding drive didn't go that much differently, with the Patriots defensive line having their way with him and eventually sacking him on third-and-4.
For Leonard, the game provided another opportunity to show that he can handle the pressure of being the quarterback behind Richardson.
The reality is that the QB2 competition is still very much alive.
Leonard has been more consistent throughout portions of training camp, while Richardson has the higher ceiling and more NFL experience.
Now both have actual game film to work with.
That matters.
The Colts Defense Has Questions to Answer
It is hard to say just how well this Colts defense is doing.
Time and time again, it feels like they let the Patriots up to field-goal range and then, and only then, decide to start playing well-adjusted defense.
But there are some shining stars, and those will be names in a bit.
For now, cornerback Jaylon Jones played great coverage, making the Patriots offense stall out once again.
What came after was yet another missed field goal on the Patriots' part.
Jones continued to make a case for himself throughout the night, particularly in a cornerback room that is going to have some very difficult decisions coming in September.
The Colts need players who can make plays when the defense is forced into tough situations.
Jones did that.
Leonard, Mallory and the Red Zone
Riley Leonard's third drive was very much run-focused, with an eventual nice throw by Leonard to Mallory.
In the red zone, however, the Colts offense was the one stalling out this time.
A fourth-and-short situation did not go in the Colts' favor as a Patriots defender knocked the ball away.
It was another frustrating ending to a promising drive.
The Colts have spent much of training camp showing they can move the football.
But once they get into the red zone, execution becomes even more important.
The Colts have to turn yards into points.
That sounds obvious, but preseason games are where these small details begin to become apparent.
Jaylon Jones Keeps Making Plays
As the Patriots took over on offense once more, Jaylon Jones hit the ground pretty hard in a pass-breakup situation, which would be followed up by a third-and-9 conversion.
As previously mentioned, the Colts are having a hard time getting off the field on third-and-longs in Patriots territory.
Something that needs to be fixed throughout these following preseason games, especially if any of the event of so many players trying to make the 2026 Colts roster.
There are too many defensive possessions where Indianapolis seems to have New England right where it wants them, only to allow one more conversion.
That is the kind of thing that may not matter much in August, but it absolutely matters when the regular season begins.
The Colts cannot consistently allow opponents to extend drives.
Rookies Make Their Case
However, newly drafted edges George Gumbs Jr. and Caden Curry both had sacks on the day.
A good sign for two roster hopefuls that have a very intriguing upside that general manager Chris Ballard noted in his opening press conference at the start of training camp.
Both players have been making impressive strides throughout camp, and now they have actual preseason game production to add to their cases.
For young defensive linemen fighting for roster spots, sacks are exactly the type of production that gets noticed.
A few nothing-offensive drives later from both teams brought about a 46-yard field goal from Spencer Shrader.
Good snap, good hold, good kick.
Maybe a bit of a resurgence from Shrader as he has fallen behind in the kicking battle between himself and Blake Grupe.
Shrader Responds
Shrader's performance deserves attention.
He has spent much of training camp trailing Grupe in the kicking competition, but Thursday provided a much-needed opportunity to respond.
And he did.
In the final two-minute drive of the game for the Colts — a chance to either tie or take the lead, Leonard threw plenty of decent-to-average throws, but not enough to get into Patriots territory.
Shane Steichen brought out Spencer Shrader for the field-goal attempt.
And Shrader hit a 61-yard field goal.
Great sign of life from Shrader in this game.
That kick may not automatically change the competition, but it certainly makes it more interesting.
After the missed field goal by the Patriots kicker Andres Borregales that would have won the game, the game ends in a tie.
Final: Colts 13, Patriots 13.
The Standouts
Some standouts of the game were notably the two rookie edges I mentioned earlier, Caden Curry and George Gumbs Jr.
Both recorded sacks and continued their hot streaks from training camp.
Cornerback Jaylon Jones also deserves recognition, as he made athletic attempts for PBUs all throughout the game.
Robert Carter Jr., climbing the ranks as an undrafted free agent, is never easy, but Carter played really well in what was an uninspiring night overall for the Colts' corners.
That matters.
Undrafted free agents do not receive much margin for error.
Every snap is an audition.
Carter made the most of his.
Offensive linemen Jalen Farmer and Jalen Travis also played good ball, which is good considering both will more than likely start this season, with Travis having to take over at right tackle.
That transition will be something to monitor throughout the remainder of the preseason.
Travis has a major responsibility ahead of him, and the Colts need him to be ready.
The Running Backs Continue to Impress
Running backs Seth McGowan and Ulysses Bentley IV both played great ball and continued their hot streak.
Bentley continues to make his case for a roster spot, while McGowan continues to distance himself from Giddens in the spot behind Jonathan Taylor for RB2.
McGowan's night was especially interesting because of the goal-line fumble.
The play looked like a touchdown before the ruling went against him.
But outside of that moment, McGowan continued to show why he has been one of the most impressive backs in camp.
Bentley also provided a strong argument that the Colts should find a way to keep him around.
The running back room is becoming one of the more interesting position groups on the roster.
Mallory Makes His Case
Tight end Will Mallory also made a strong case for a roster spot.
His athletic traits are proving to have grown and now showcase themselves with the same type of reliability as Mo Alie-Cox has.
Mallory has been making plays throughout camp, and Thursday provided another opportunity for him to demonstrate that his development has not gone unnoticed.
For a player fighting for a roster spot, consistency is everything.
Mallory is beginning to show it.
Richardson vs. Leonard
Then there is Anthony Richardson.
Even with his struggles, Richardson outplayed Leonard hands down.
Despite fewer pass attempts, Richardson proved himself a reliable quarterback in certain spots.
And while his consistency looks decently better, protecting himself and the football prove to be present issues for him to figure out in the coming games this preseason cycle.
That is the biggest takeaway.
Richardson was not perfect, and far from it.
But he responded.
That is something we have been waiting to see.
The Colts do not need Richardson to be perfect in preseason.
They need him to show progress.
They need him to show that the mistakes from training camp can be corrected.
They need him to protect the football.
They need him to stay healthy.
And most importantly, they need him to become consistent.
Thursday was not the finished product.
But it was a step.
Final Thoughts
The Colts and Patriots finished their first preseason game in a 13-13 tie, but the final score does not tell the entire story.
Indianapolis saw some encouraging developments.
Curry and Gumbs recorded sacks.
Jaylon Jones continued to make plays.
Robert Carter Jr. strengthened his roster case.
McGowan and Bentley continued their impressive summers.
Mallory made another strong argument for a roster spot.
And Shrader, after falling behind Grupe throughout training camp, responded with a 61-yard field goal.
There were also plenty of problems.
The Colts struggled to get off the field on third downs.
The defense allowed too many drives to reach field-goal range.
The offense stalled in the red zone.
And Richardson still has some very real issues to work through.
But if there is one thing Indianapolis should take away from Thursday night, it is that the preseason is doing exactly what it is supposed to do.
It is exposing problems.
It is rewarding players who make plays.
And it is forcing difficult roster decisions.
For Richardson, the clock is ticking.
For Leonard, the competition remains alive.
For McGowan, Bentley, Mallory, Jones, Carter, Curry and Gumbs, every snap is an opportunity.
And for the Colts as a whole, there is still plenty to clean up.
A 13-13 tie is not exactly the most exciting result.
But the information Indianapolis gained from it may be far more valuable than the final score.
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