The Indianapolis Colts will kick off their preseason action by hosting the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium
With training camp just about over, there are plenty of storylines, position bttles and overall players to watch during the opener.
This also will be the much-anticipated debut of first-round pick Laiatu Latu and the rest of the 2024 draft class .
Here are five things to watch in the Colts first preseason exhibition:
What to watch for in Colts first preseason game
1. The return of Anthony Richardson
The biggest key to success for the Colts 2024 season comes down to Anthony Richardson’s development and ability to stay on the field. With Shane Steichen confirming that the starters will play a series or two on Sunday, this will be AR’s first time on a playing field since he left the Week 5 matchup against the Tennessee Titans last year.
I don’t expect Richardson to play much but he was on the field for three series in last year’s first preseason game so that is what we may see. The ideal scenario is that AR puts together two to three solid drives where the offense moves the ball, puts points on the board, and most importantly, leaves the exhibition unharmed.
2. The debut of the rookie class
Preseason games can be dull but the one exciting thing the first one brings is the rookies' debut. As I mentioned, all eyes are seeing Laiatu Latu make his debut in the horseshoe. Still, with Samson Ebukam’s Achilles injury , I would expect it would be a brief appearance for Latu since he has impressed in training camp and the coaching staff wants to get him to the regular season.
Second-round pick Adonai Mitchell should see some solid playing time with Shane Steichen gearing him up to be more comfortable in his role. Mitchell can use this opportunity to his advantage in his competition with Alec Pierce for the X-receiver starting job.
Matt Goncalves and Tanor Bortolini are battling for the backup roles on the offensive line. It will be interesting to see where both are in the lineup when they hit the field for the first time.
One rookie who can be a potential X-factor in the regular season is Anthony Gould . He could provide some excitement as a returner with the new kickoff role and explosive plays he can create for the passing attack. With Josh Downs’ ankle injury , he may have to contribute more than expected to start the season if Downs isn’t ready by the season opener.
Jaylin Simpson and Micah Abraham should see a significant amount of time on the field on Sunday. Simpson has looked good in training camp and could carve out a role in the rotation for the regular season. Abraham is pushing for the backup nickel spot as a sixth-round pick.
One last rookie from the draft class to keep an eye on is Jonah Laulu . He faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster with him looking for a spot in a deep defensive front.
Jaylon Carlies will likely be out of the first preseason game. The rookie linebacker has yet to return to practice as he deals with a hip injury.
3. Jelani Woods’ first action since rookie season
A player that Colts fans haven’t seen on the field since Week 17 of the 2022 season is Jelani Woods. The uber-athletic tight end can provide a spark for the passing attack this season but he does have some more work to do to earn his role in Shane Steichen’s offense.
Based on the first unofficial depth chart and the latest team practice, Woods is working with the second-team offense . I wouldn’t expect to see him playing an extended time since the team needs him to contribute this season.
Woods can use this first preseason game to continue to shake off any remaining rust and remind the coaching staff what he can do as a playmaker with the ball in his hands if given the opportunity.
4. Nick Cross vs Rodney Thomas II
The biggest question mark on Indy’s roster remains who will be the starting free safety come opening day? Gus Bradley stated this week that the decision on who the starting free safety isn’t close heading into the first preseason game.
“I think as soon as someone consistently steps up,” Bradley said. “I think once we feel good about, ‘All right, this is the direction we’re gonna go,’ then we’ll go. But I don’t think we’re any time close right now.”
Cross has been primarily the starting free safety during camp but Thomas II has been getting reps with the starters this week. Ronnie Harrison Jr. was getting reps at free safety but has exclusively been getting reps at strong safety recently.
Both third-year safeties have a chance to separate themselves in this competition on Sunday. Not only does one of them need to emerge but they also have to make the coaching staff comfortable that they are the starter otherwise a veteran like Justin Simmons could be signed shortly so they are ready for the season opener.
5. Jaylon Jones vs Dallis Flowers
With JuJu Brents all but officially locking up one of the starting boundary cornerback spots, eyes are on who will be starting opposite of him between Jaylon Jones and Dallis Flowers. Jones appears to be in the lead with him being the player that goes out with the starting defense in practice.
This will be the first look at Flowers outside of a practice field since he tore his Achilles in Week 4 last season. The third-year corner wants his spot back on the depth chart and Sunday can provide him that opportunity to make some plays.
Gus Bradley spoke on the cornerback competition after Wednesday’s practice.
“Those three guys, we’re moving around and seeing,” Bradley said. “I think (Jones) has had a pretty good training camp. … (Flowers), I think that with that injury, we saw him coming back, he was still about maybe, I don’t know, like five or 10 percent away from being him in OTAs, but we feel that gap closing now, to where he’s getting closer to the Dallis we know.”
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