The first of two joint practices between the Arizona Cardinals and the Indianapolis Colts wrapped up Wednesday night.
Like every practice or preseason game, there were plenty of moments we could positively and negatively overreact to if we allowed ourselves. After the first joint practice, four storylines are at the front of my mind.
Anthony Richardson's arm strength after the shoulder injury isn't a concern
After a shoulder injury ended Colts starting quarterback Anthony Richardson's rookie season, the long-term effects it could have on his arm strength was a major worry amongst fans. After a few weeks of training camp and now a joint practice session, I think it's safe to say his arm strength is far from a concern. The second-year QB put it on full display against the Cardinals on Wednesday. Including some incredible throws on the day to Michael Pittman Jr., Anthony Gould, and Adonai Mitchell. The Colts offense is going to utilize the deep ball again after spending the majority of last season with that element being nearly eliminated while Gardner Minshew was under center.
Colts Pass Rush is going to be one of the best in the NFL
Even after losing their 2023 sack leader Samson Ebukam to a torn Achilles, the Colt's pass rush room continues to impress during training camp. And during their first joint practice with the Cardinals, that was no different. The Colts pass rush made life tough for Kyler Murray and the Cardinal's first-team offense. Kwity Paye, Tyquan Lewis, and rookie Laiatu Latu led the charge off the edge as the Colts' defense got the best of the Cardinals' offensive line throughout the day. Their edge rushers, paired with their dominant duo of DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart in the interior, have the team projecting as one of the best pass rushes in the NFL.
Colts secondary is going to be one of the worst in the NFL
While the Colts' pass rush shows flashes of being an elite group in 2024, their secondary is quite the opposite. Outside of Julian Blackmon and Kenny Moore II, the rest of the Colt's secondary struggled during 1-on-1's and team periods. Second-year CB Juju Brents has had some really solid flashes, but his youth sometimes causes mental errors. And the opposite of him at CB is going to be another young player with the errors happening at an even higher rate. This makes the Colts' outside CB situation have the capability of being a liability if the mental errors stack up on any given Sunday. When you pair that with the team's uncertainty and inexperience at FS, the floor of this team's secondary is one of the lowest in the NFL.
Colts rookie Adonai Mitchell has a bright future
Training camp hasn't been all about making plays for Colts rookie WR. It's been about polishing his game and getting ready for his rookie season. And his hard work is paying off after a solid first joint practice. The rookie's footwork at the line of scrimmage and route running ability shined against the Cardinals and is catching the eye of his coaches and teammates. With Josh Downs going down with an ankle injury, the Colts gave Mitchell the first crack at the starting slot WR job while Downs is sidelined. This was a testament of the Colts' desire to get Mitchell on the field and utilize their 2024 second-round pick. The highlight of his first joint practice came after winning a 1-on-1 rep where he hauled in a big catch in the endzone.
Related: Three Colts players who need to stand out during the joint practices with the Cardinals
Related: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson makes bold statement involving LeBron James
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