Stars and standouts from first week of Indianapolis Colts training camp

The Indianapolis Colts have gotten through the first handful of practices at training camp in Westfield.

Though it was a tough blow for the defense to see Samson Ebukam go down with a season-ending injury , there have been plenty of positive developments from the first week of camp.

The Colts held their first padded practice Monday morning and will likely hold a few more ahead of the preseason to gear up for the opener on Aug. 11.

With the first week of camp completed, it's time to take a look at the stars and standouts for the Colts:

Stars, standouts from Colts training camp

QB Anthony Richardson

The electric second-year quarterback has quelled any concerns about the injury scare he had during minicamp. The most important development is that Richardson has been healthy and participating in every play for the Colts during the first week of camp.

Richardson has shown some major improvements as a passer, and it's translated into the team drills. The dual-threat quarterback is 23-of-31 (74.2%) in team drills thus far with only one interception. The Colts aren't going to keep Richardson from running, and it seems he's making strong strides as a passer as well.

EDGE Laiatu Latu

The first-round pick from the 2024 NFL draft has done nothing but impress since arriving on the scene this spring. Even though it's impossible to gauge trench work without pads, it's clear that Latu simply plays at a different speed.

That remained true when the pads did come on Tuesday. Latu dominated the practice and even got some reps with the first-team defense, recording the unit's only would-be sack of the day by beating starting left tackle Bernhard Raimann.

With the unfortunate injury to Samson Ebukam , there's a chance Latu will carve out a much more significant role earlier than expected.

WR Josh Downs

There is something to be said about the connection between Downs and Richardson. The second-year duo clearly have trust in one another, and it's beginning to blossom in a big way. According to Kevin Bowen of 1075 The Fan , Downs leads all receivers in catches from Richardson during team drills.

And these aren't the typical quick-hitting slot routes. There are those, of course, but there also have been a handful of downfield plays between Richardson and Downs. The connection should only grow stronger as camp continues, and this could be the start of a beautiful duo.

LB Jaylon Carlies

There has been a steady drumbeat for Carlies since he was drafted in the fifth round back in April. The Missouri product is transitioning from safety to linebacker, and it appears that transition is going extremely well. The rookie seems to have the inside track to the No. 3 linebacker role.

Carlies brings a different type of speed and athleticism to the middle of Gus Bradley's defense, and he's put it on display several times throughout the spring and training camp practices. The preseason will help shape the depth chart, but Carlies has been turning heads consistently.

WR Adonai Mitchell

Another rookie looking to make an impact, Mitchell has been splitting first-team reps with third-year receiver Alec Pierce. The Colts are intentionally doing this to create competition while also giving both receivers the chance to work with Richardson and backup quarterback Joe Flacco.

There's a very good chance this winds up being a platoon for the majority of the season, but Mitchell has certainly flashed the upside. He's made some incredible catches in 1-on-1 drills and has been a common starter during red-zone work.

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