Riley Leonard said on April 22 that he is approaching this offseason differently after quickly moving up the quarterback depth chart as a rookie in 2025. With Daniel Jones recovering from an Achilles injury and Anthony Richardson Sr. requesting a trade, Leonard is expected to take first team snaps during organized team activities (OTAs).
Leonard said this offseason has given him more time off than he has had since high school and the COVID pandemic. “This is the most time off I’ve had since probably high school and COVID,” Leonard said. “I was itching to get back up, though, because it takes forever to get back to work.”
He emphasized the importance of practice repetitions for quarterbacks as he prepares for his new responsibilities. “Reps are the biggest thing for a quarterback,” Leonard said Tuesday. “You can get on the board all you want but getting those reps (are important).” He also spoke about Jones’s recovery process: “Dan’s a pretty consistent guy. It’s no surprise he’s ahead of schedule,” he said of the eight-year veteran. “It didn’t surprise me when he was the first one in the building, even though he was hurt.”
Leonard reflected on starting last season as third string behind Jones and Richardson after having started 37 games at Duke and Notre Dame: “Being the guy in college to the third string is completely different,” he said Tuesday. “It’s very humbling, but you learn a lot from the experience.” After spending much of his rookie year backing up injured teammates—and witnessing a three-week stint by Philip Rivers—Leonard got his first career start in Week 18 against Houston, completing 21 of 34 passes for 270 yards with two touchdowns.
Looking ahead to OTAs and his second season, Leonard identified areas where he hopes to improve: “I think one of the things I can improve on is understanding the why of the offense,” he said. He added that while he understands play calls generally, grasping their purpose against specific defenses remains an area for growth.
With expectations rising around him heading into OTAs, Leonard summed up his approach: “It’s very well-known that there’s a chance that I get the thumbs up early,” he said. “I look forward to that opportunity, but it’s more (so), ‘What can I do tomorrow to put myself in a better position to help this team out?'”
