INDIANAPOLIS — Riley Leonard has been here before.
He started 16 games at Notre Dame, and it didn’t get any bigger than the national championship game against Ohio State in January.
And he started 21 games at Duke, where his relationship with current teammate Daniel Jones began.
But Saturday, Leonard starts for the Indianapolis Colts in their preseason finale against the Bengals at Cincinnati’s Paycor Stadium.
The sixth-round draft pick has played extensively in the second half of the first two preseason games. He’s been on the field for 63 snaps, delivered 36 passes and ranks third in rushing with 44 yards on six attempts.
Thursday, Leonard initially said all the right things.
“Can’t really approach it any different than I have any of the other preseason games,’’ he said. “Preparation really doesn’t change. The only thing is instead of going out and start the second half, I’ll start the first half.
“Really no difference. Luckily, I’ve played in a lot of big games at this point of my career.’’
Shane Steichen named Daniel Jones his starting quarterback for the season and slotted Anthony Richardson Sr. at No. 2. Neither will play against the Bengals and that holds true for the vast majority of the Colts’ other front-line players and top backups.
Leonard shared how his rookie experience has been four months of serving as a sponge in the quarterbacks’ room. One tidbit he learned from Jones: wear the wristband higher up on his right arm because sweat tends to collect lower on the wrist.
A “nuance,’’ Leonard called it.
But then the conversion returned to starting Saturday.
Leonard was reminded of his unabashed elation when the Colts selected him in round 5.
“There’s no place I would rather be than back in Indiana,’’ he said after receiving the draft call from management. “Even when I was at the Combine in Indianapolis, it kind of just felt like home.’’
He wore a Colts t-shirt and baseball hat on the Zoom call.
Now, he’ll run onto the field with the offense for the start of Saturday’s game.
“Right now it seems pretty similar to the other weeks,’’ Leonard said. “But of course, I carry a lot of weight going into this game on my shoulders, for better or worse. But I understand the situation here. I don’t want to make too much of it.
“I guess maybe before the game if you asked me it would be different, but right now pretty similar.’’
In the harsh reality of the NFL, Richardson is only one play away from regaining his starting position. And Leonard is only two plays away from being under center when the games count.
It’s incumbent for him to maximize every opportunity, especially in the competitive setting offered with preseason snaps.
When the Colts reconvene next week and amp up preparation for the Sept. 7 opener against the Miami Dolphins and the rest of the season, Jones gets the snaps with the No. 1 offense and Richardson runs the scout team. The No. 3 guy gets reps in individual sessions and, normally, after practices during the week.
“Obviously, I’ve never been through this before,’’ Leonard said, “so I don’t know what the season’s like. But I’ve heard the stories that the quarterback-3 doesn’t get reps all week in a normal game week.
“Hopefully that’s not the case for me, but obviously right now is like my time. Do you think about the situations that can happen if you play good? Do you think about the situations that can happen if you play bad? I’m trying not to do that.
“I’ve got one half, right? It’s not a do-or-die situation. I’m going to go out there and do my job.’’
Steichen didn’t diminish the importance of Leonard’s playing time in Cincinnati.
“I think it’s big,’’ he said. “Being a rookie, getting out there in the game-like atmosphere for him. He’s gotten some good reps in training camp, but to get a whole half of action will be good for him and his development.’’
One of the biggest adjustments for Leonard – for any rookie – is having more time on his hands. His routine at Notre Dame included mixing academics and football.
Now, football is his full-time job.
“You get here and you have to much more time before practice, after practice,’’ Leonard said. “There were times (at Notre Dame) where you have to tell the nutritionist after practice to get you a to-go box because you had a class to get to.
“Now, I’m free the rest of the day and it’s 1:30 and I can do so much more to help develop my game instead of going to class and homework and all these different things.
“That’s a complete game-changer.’’
His growth as a player has included addressing areas he had never considered.
“I never really thought about the way I throw a football or the way that I grip a football,’’ he said. “Or the soles of my shoes (for) my feet is something I’ve changed here.
“There’s just so many little nuances that you learn at this level that you can implement into your game. If I was this player now and had a year in college, I think the sky’s the limit.
“That’s not the case, but I think the sky’s the limit at this level as well.’’
Participation update
Cornerback JuJu Brents, who’s missed extended time with a hamstring injury, returned to practice this week and will play against the Bengals.
“JuJu will get some reps on Saturday,’’ Steichen said.
Cornerback Xavien Howard, who signed earlier this week, will not play.
Steichen also addressed keeping Richardson out of the game.
“Well, I think he’s one play away from going into an actual game and don’t want to take the risk there in that situation,’’ he said. “We’ve got a lot of our 3s and 4s playing in this game. It’s their last opportunity to go prove it, to make the 53-man roster.’’
Rosters must be cut from 90 to 53 by Tuesday.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.