Colts Wreck Bengals in Week 3 Preseason Finale

Colts Third-String QB Riley Leonard Shines in Dominant Win

The Indianapolis Colts closed out their preseason with an impressive 41-14 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday. Third-string quarterback Riley Leonard stole the spotlight, completing 15 of 20 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown, highlighted by a stunning 59-yard touchdown pass to Laquon Treadwell just before halftime. Leonard’s calm and confident play stood out as he said he had a lot of fun on the field and leaned on his past big-game experience to manage the pressure.

Bengals Rely on Backups, Face Offensive Struggles

The Bengals rested their starters, including Joe Burrow and Jake Browning, giving backups Desmond Ridder and Payton Thorne the ball. Ridder, a University of Cincinnati alum, struggled with 8 completions on 20 attempts for 75 yards, an interception, and one rushing touchdown. Running back Kendall Milton led the Bengals rushing attack with 72 yards on eight carries. Bengals coach Zac Taylor expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress but admitted the game got away from them by halftime.

Defensive Highlights and Key Moments

Colts safety Daniel Scott made a big impact with a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown early in the game—a feel-good moment after coming back from two season-ending injuries. The Colts defense limited Cincinnati’s passing game effectively but allowed some success on the ground. Ulysses Bentley IV chipped in with two rushing touchdowns, helping the Colts pull away in the second half. Backup QB Jason Bean also contributed with a solid second half performance.

Injuries, Roster Notes, and Looking Ahead

Both teams faced some injuries in the game. Colts backup left guard Josh Sills left with a shoulder injury, while Bengals backup safety Daijahn Anthony exited due to a hamstring issue. Bengals rookie Jalen Rivers gained valuable snaps at right guard and is a strong candidate to start the regular-season opener due to multiple injuries on the Bengals' offensive line. The Colts will open their regular season at home against Miami on September 7, while the Bengals will visit Cleveland on the same day.

Category	Player	Team	Stat
Passing Yards	Riley Leonard	Colts	189 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Passing Yards	Jason Bean	Colts	107 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Yards	Kendall Milton	Bengals	72 yards
Rushing TDs	Ulysses Bentley IV	Colts	2 rushing touchdowns
Receiving Yards	Laquon Treadwell	Colts	116 yards, 1 TD
Interception Return	Daniel Scott	Colts	35 yards, 1 TD
Passing Attempts	Desmond Ridder	Bengals	8 completions on 20