Colts Camp Notebook Day 8: Young Safeties Show Rare Playmaking

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INDIANAPOLIS – Monday brought the second to last consecutive practice stretch of training camp for the Colts.

It was another afternoon practice for the Colts, although no full pads on Monday, as they are in preseason game week for the first time in 2024.

Here are some takeaways from Day 8 of Colts training camp:

• Monday was a day for the young safeties showing some timely playmaking. For the first time since the defense dominated a two-minute drill to end Friday’s practice, the Colts had another two-minute scenario on Monday. This had the offense down 8 with 46 seconds to go, from the opposing 25-yard line, with no timeouts. The starting offense had their opening drive end rather quickly as Nick Cross made a diving interception, on a terrific snag, offering his biggest play of camp. The Cross INT came with Richardson trying to target Kylen Granson in the end zone. On the very next drive, Joe Flacco was then picked by Rodney Thomas II as the veteran quarterback had to heave one to the end zone with no time left in the scenario. Honestly, outside of Julian Blackmon, the defensive back playmaking has been rare this camp, especially from the frontline guys. But this from Cross and Thomas II was some important plays, at big practice moments. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley was asked after practice of when will he know who has won the job next to Julian Blackmon. “As soon as someone consistently steps up,” is what the defensive coordinator offered. And Bradley said they aren’t close to that decision anytime soon. Bradley added for Cross, who remains the favorite, to secure that job, the staff wants to see consistent play, and then playmaking, when presented the opportunity. These Monday INTs in a red zone/end of game drill were exactly that. Does one play after some 8 practices mean the Colts should feel great about what they have next to Blackmon? No. But it was undoubtedly a positive for that competing duo.

• We will push the Anthony Richardson recap for Monday down a rung. I had Richardson 5-of-11, with taking a couple of sacks. Richardson did show off his leg element in the red zone with a couple of nice plays. Richardson completed his passes to Kylen Granson (2), Michael Pittman Jr., AD Mitchell and Mo Alie-Cox. While Richardson and the starting offense had its first redzone/end of game drive end early, they did score a touchdown when given another chance. After Kenny Moore II made a great play on an Alec Pierce fade, and then Jaylon Jones followed with a timely pass breakup on AD Mitchell, it was Richardson’s leg punching it in on a 4 ^th -and-Goal. The pending two-point conversion was ruled as a failed attempt as Richardson couldn’t find anyone open and Kenny Moore II took the proper angle on a late scramble towards the pylon by No. 5. Through 8 days of camp, Richardson is 50-of-78 in team drills, completing his passes to Michael Pittman Jr. (12), Josh Downs (10), Kylen Granson (7), Alec Pierce (5), AD Mitchell (5) Mo Alie-Cox (3), Jonathan Taylor (3), Will Mallory (1), Drew Ogletree (2), Jelani Woods (1), Trey Sermon (1).

• For the second straight day, the Colts had a “call up” period, which means no script, offense/defense subbing players in like it’s a game setting, and the football being moved like a normal game. During that period, the starting offense stalled out on a 3 ^rd -and-2 just past midfield. In this period, the Colts continued to explore some with Julian Blackmon playing free safety and Nick Cross playing strong safety. All options appear to be on the table to settle what looks to be the final open starting job on defense.

• Going back to the “no timeouts” in the red zone/end of game drill, you’d find about as unhappy a Shane Steichen as I’ve seen on a practice field. Trey Sermon caught a ball from Joe Flacco but did not get out of bounds and that had the coach dropping a magic word in letting his running back know that he better get out of bounds to conserve clock.

• Monday’s defensive highlight should include E.J. Speed making a terrific play well down the field in coverage on Josh Downs to knock away what would have been a likely touchdown.

• As we’ve seen with AD Mitchell lately, it can be a mixed bag for the rookie. Mitchell got a look with the starters on Monday but his most (un)memorable moment was an early red-zone drop. Mitchell has had some rookie moments to go along with the occasional flash this camp.

• When you look at the upcoming practice schedule, the number of sessions are starting to quiet down. The Colts will have a real 90-minute practice on Wednesday, before a lighter one on Friday to conclude this preseason game week. Next week, the Colts have just two practices—the Wednesday/Thursday joint sessions against the Cardinals. In the week following that, it’ll be a Tuesday joint practice in Cincinnati before the preseason finale against the Bengals on Thursday the 22 ^nd . Roster cuts take place on August 27 ^th . All of this laid out is to say players have about a handful of practices, plus 3 preseason games to make a strong impression on this staff. Time is starting to tick.

• Shane Steichen has said he will make his preseason playing time for Sunday’s opener mid-week (Steichen will meet the media following Wednesday’s camp practice). If you want to look back on last year’s preseason opener, Steichen didn’t hold back in playing his starters. Offensively, the starters played 3 series, with guys like Quenton Nelson and Michael Pittman Jr. logging 29 snaps. Defensively, in the 2 ^nd year of Gus Bradley’s system, you still had the likes of Zaire Franklin and Grover Stewart playing two series. Now, will Steichen alter this plan at all with the Colts now in the 2 ^nd year of his offense and 3 ^rd year of Bradley’s defense? We will find out on Wednesday.

• Here is how the starting offense looked on Monday: QB-Anthony Richardson, RB-Jonathan Taylor, WR-AD Mitchell, WR-Michael Pittman Jr. WR-Josh Downs, TE-Drew Ogletree, LT-Bernhard Raimann, LG-Quenton Nelson, C-Ryan Kelly, RG-Will Fries, RT-Braden Smith.

• Here is how the starting defense looked on Monday: DE-Tyquan Lewis, DT-Grover Stewart, DT-DeForest Buckner, DE-Kwity Paye, LB-Zaire Franklin, LB-E.J. Speed, CB-Kenny Moore II, CB-JuJu Brents, CB-Jaylon Jones, S-Julian Blackmon, S-Nick Cross.

• Guys that stood out at Monday’s practice: WR-D.J. Montgomery, WR-Ashton Dulin, CB-Jaylin Simpson, S-Nick Cross, S-Rondey Thomas II, LB-E.J. Speed.

Injury Report : The following players did not appear to be participating at Monday’s practice: DL-Dayo Odeyingbo (calf), DE-Samson Ebukam (calf). TE-Will Mallory (hamstring), LB-Jaylon Carlies (hip), LB-Liam Anderson (undisclosed). C-Wesley French appeared to suffer a lower body injury late in Monday’s practice. The following players remain on the PUP or non-football injury lists: DT-Raekown Davis (illness, high blood pressure, should return soon).

2024 Colts Training Camp Schedule

-8/7 (Wednesday): 9:00-10:30 AM practice

-8/9 (Friday): 10:00-11:00 AM practice

-8/11 (Sunday): 1 ^st preseason game vs. Broncos (1:00)

-8/14 (Wednesday joint practices with Cardinals): 6:00-8:00 PM practice

-8/15 (Thursday joint practices with Cardinals): 6:00-7:20 PM practice

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