Colts quarterback Riley Leonard has been nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week for Week 18, following his performance in the Colts’ game against the Houston Texans on Sunday. You can vote for Leonard to receive the award by clicking here.
Leonard made his first career start against the Texans and their No. 1 defense on Sunday, completing 21-of-34 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three carries for 21 rushing yards and a touchdown. Leonard finished the game with a 94.0 passer rating.
Leonard became the first Colts quarterback to record two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in his first career start, and is the first quarterback in the NFL to do so since Brock Purdy in Week 14 of 2022. He also tied the franchise record for second-most total touchdowns in a single game by a Colts rookie starting quarterback.
With a 66-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce in the first quarter of Sunday’s game, Leonard completed the longest touchdown pass by the Colts this season and tied for the longest touchdown pass by a rookie this season. The pass marked Leonard’s first touchdown pass of his career, and the longest reception of Pierce’s career as well. It was also the longest touchdown pass by a Colts rookie quarterback since Andrew Luck’s 70-yard pass in Week 17 of 2012 against the Texans.
Leonard is now the ninth rookie quarterback in NFL history to throw a 66-plus yard touchdown pass in the first quarter of his first start. Leonard is also the third Colts rookie quarterback to record a rushing touchdown in his first career start, joining Mike Pagel (1982) and Anthony Richardson Sr. (2023).
Along with Leonard, New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, New England Patriots running back TreVeyon Henderson, Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty and Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland were nominated this week.
