Colts backups rush for 3 scores to beat mistake-prone Cardinals 21-13 in preseason

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen found plenty to like from his backups Saturday night.

Quarterback Jason Bean and running backs Tyler Goodson and Zavier Scott each rushed for scores. Quarterbacks Sam Ehlinger and Kedon Slovis showed they belong in the conversation to be the No. 3 quarterback.

Steichen couldn't have scripted it much better as the Colts held off the mistake-prone Arizona Cardinals 21-13.

“I think we went for what, 166 on the ground, with all those guys that were battling, scratching and clawing, which was good to see,” Steichen said. “This game was an opportunity for our assistant coaches, too. A lot of guys called the game throughout on both sides of the ball and it was fun to listen to everyone call it.”

Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon also opted to sit most of his starters including rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. after holding two joint practices with the Colts earlier this week. Harrison still has not appeared in a game at Lucas Oil Stadium, the same one his Hall of Fame father once called his home field.

But the Colts didn't mind.

Bean took advantage of his most extensive playing time in two weeks by going 7 of 9 with 94 yards, one interception and the 1-yard TD run on fourth down to open the fourth quarter. Goodson started and ran six times for 35 yards and the first score of the game as he battles Zavier Scott for the No. 3 running back job. Scott had 11 carries for 55 yards.

Sam Ehlinger started for the Colts and was 4 of 7 for 38 yards while Slovis closed it out by going 8 of 11 for 79 yards.

“We'll see,” Steichen said when asked if he'd start the season with three quarterbacks. “I think it's going to come down at the end of roster and how we're looking at it."

Clayton Tune started at quarterback for the Cardinals and was 8 of 10 with 79 yards and a 12-yard TD run late in the first half while Desmond Ridder finished the game 6 of 10 for 71 yards. Trey Benson carried nine times for 43 yards, but Arizona had nearly as many penalties (11) as first downs (13).

“It's hard to get a rhythm when you have the ball and you're going backward,” Gannon said. “We weren't ready to play today mentally and that's on me.”

It marked the first time these two franchises met in a preseason game since August 1967 when they called Baltimore and St. Louis home and were relying on quarterbacks John Unitas and Jim Hart.

Indy took a 7-0 lead on Goodson's 8-yard TD run late in the first quarter. Arizona answered with a 40-yard field goal early in the second quarter and capitalized on an interception when Tune scored on a 12-yard run in the final minute of the first half for a 10-7 lead.

Bean rebounded by opening the second half with a 75-yard drive, capped by Scott's 6-yard scoring run, before punching it in himself to give Indy a 21-13 lead.

It was a tough night for Cardinals offensive lineman Christian Jones, a fifth-round draft pick out of Texas. The rookie was called for holding on three consecutive plays and four times in a string of 13 Arizona plays in the second quarter. Indy declined the fourth penalty to force fourth down.

“Every officiating crew is different,” Gannon said, noting Jones “reset” at halftime. “If that's the way they're going to call it, we have to be smarter.”

Less than 24 hours after posting her 10th double-double of the season and leading the WNBA's Indiana Fever to a third consecutive victory over the Phoenix Mercury, star player Caitlin Clark was in the crowd.

The former Iowa star got a first-hand glimpse of another former Hawkeye, Goodson, getting significant action. Clark plays again Sunday when Seattle visits Gainbridge Fieldhouse, just a few blocks away from Lucas Oil Stadium.

Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez did not play Saturday night because his wife, Cynthia, delivered the couple's second child, a daughter.

Spencer Shrader, a rookie kicker from Notre Dame, replaced Sanchez as both the punter and holder on extra points and field goals. His first punt went 63 yards.

Cardinals: Offensive lineman Jon Gaines II left with a finger injury in the first half.

Colts: Cornerback JuJu Brents (nose), tight end Jelani Woods (toe) and backup offensive lineman Josh Sills (ankle) all left in the first half and did not return. Backup offensive lineman Tanor Bortolini also injured a toe late in the game.

Cardinals: Close out the preseason Aug. 25 at Denver.

Colts: Visit Cincinnati on Thursday, two days after a joint practice against the Bengals.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Xavier Weaver (30) is unable to make a catch on a pass as Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jaylin Simpson defends during the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, left, pauses with Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen, right, after a preseason NFL football game, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Indianapolis. The Colts won 21-13. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy )

Indianapolis Colts linebacker Segun Olubi (50) tackles Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (31) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland (12) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals safety Andre Chachere during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts running back Evan Hull (26) gets tackled by Arizona Cardinals linebacker Owen Pappoe, left, and Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Zach Pascal (0) runs past Arizona Cardinals safety Verone McKinley III (35) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune (15) scores a touchdown against Indianapolis Colts linebacker Grant Stuard (41) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter (22) gets tackled by Indianapolis Colts linebacker Segun Olubi, left, during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Baccellia, left, makes a catch against Indianapolis Colts cornerback Ameer Speed during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson (31) gets pulled down by Arizona Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore, left, sacks Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune, right, during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Xavier Weaver (30) is unable to make a catch on a pass as Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jaylin Simpson defends during the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Jason Bean (8) runs for a touchdown by beating Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Bailey (41) and Cardinals safety Verone McKinley III, right, during the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Indianapolis Colts running back Tyler Goodson (31) beats Arizona Cardinals safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson for a touchdown during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

IMOLA, Italy (AP) — Franco Colapinto says replacing another Formula 1 driver during the season is “never nice circumstances” and he doesn’t believe his five-race deal with Alpine is long enough.

After Australian rookie Jack Doohan was dropped amid wider upheaval at Alpine, Colapinto was promoted from a reserve role last week to partner Pierre Gasly starting this week at the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

Colapinto, who drove nine races with Williams last year, has a commitment from Alpine that he'll get only the next five races to show what he can do. He said that might not be enough time to shake off the rust.

“Everything is new again, we start from zero," Colapinto said Thursday. "Of course, it wasn’t the nicest, after doing the last nine races of last year, to kind of step out. It was not what I wanted, but it was a good time to kind of reflect on what happened last year and to learn from it.

“Happy to be back, and of course never nice circumstances when it happens like this, when you step in another driver’s seat, but you never really choose the moment you do it in Formula 1.”

The 21-year-old Colapinto is back in Italy where he made his F1 debut last year when Williams dropped struggling American driver Logan Sargeant before the Italian Grand Prix at Monza.

This time, the Argentine says he feels more relaxed — even if he is “a bit rusty, maybe” — and delighted to be back, with strong backing from South American fans.

“Monza was like a massive excitement and everything was new, and it was the first time I was going to be a part of a Formula 1 week," he said. "So here it feels a bit different. It’s still my dream come true so the feelings are the same.”

Alpine has promised Colapinto only five races followed by “a new evaluation” in July, so he needs to make the sort of quick impact he did with Williams last year, scoring points in his second race.

Still, he said, that might not be enough for Alpine to see him at his best. Colapinto flagged up comments this year by the experienced Spanish driver Carlos Sainz Jr. that he might need as many as 10 races to get used to his new car after switching from Ferrari to Williams.

“After you’ve heard Carlos saying that he needs 10 races to get used to a car, I think five is not enough for me (after) I drove nine in all my life in F1,” Colapinto said. “So it probably takes me a few more races, probably a couple more than five, to get up to speed and maximize everything out of the car. But it is what I have and I just want to maximize it, enjoy it and try to do the best for the team."

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Alpine driver Franco Colapinto of Argentina answers reporters during a news conference at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack, ahead the Italy's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Alpine driver Franco Colapinto of Argentina answers reporters during a news conference at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack, ahead the Italy's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Alpine driver Franco Colapinto of Argentina answers reporters during a news conference at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari racetrack, ahead the Italy's Emilia Romagna Formula One Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)