With Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback Daniel Jones going down in the second quarter of Week 14's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Fairhope native Riley Leonard stepped in to make his NFL regular-season debut.

"It's obviously difficult to be put in that situation, but it's pretty obvious when you're the second string quarterback that you are one play away," Leonard said in his postgame press conference. "When that play happens, if you haven't been preparing for that, what have you been doing? There are a lot of things you can think about when you go into a game, but I try to focus on the little things. Just focus on my preparation and preparing like I am the starter."

Leonard entered in a difficult spot, taking over with the Colts already trailing 21-7 in what became a 36-19 loss. Still, the rookie flashed some promise for a team that remains in the playoff picture at 8-5.The former Fairhope High standout finished 18-of-29 passing for 145 yards with one interception. Known for his dual-threat ability throughout high school and college, Leonard scored his first career touchdown on a 6-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

After the game, ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter reported that head coach Shane Steichen said Jones' injury "does not look good." With former first-round pick Anthony Richardson already on the IR, it is likely that Indianapolis will add another quarterback, but for now, the job appears to be Leonard's for the rest of the 2025 season.