Colts Training Camp Journal, Day 5: Anthony Richardson Returns to Practice
The Indianapolis Colts cranked up the physicality on Tuesday during practice No. 5 of training camp.
After donning shoulder pads for the first time on Monday, they added full pads on Tuesday, and those pads were popping early and often. Their star rookie quarterback, Anthony Richardson, was back under center after missing Monday following a nasal procedure.
I was in attendance and now provide my notes from the sidelines.
TEAM
— Tight end Jelani Woods (hamstring), running back Zack Moss (arm), strong safety Julian Blackmon (hamstring), rookie cornerbacks JuJu Brents (hamstring) and Darius Rush (shoulder), defensive end Samson Ebukam (hamstring), rookie offensive linemen Jake Witt (hip) and Emil Ekiyor (undisclosed), and linebacker Liam Anderson (undisclosed) all missed practice. Linebacker E.J. Speed (undisclosed) was injured early in practice and didn't return to the playing field. Running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) and defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis (knee) both remain on the Physically Unable to Perform list.
— Following practice, head coach Shane Steichen said that Blackmon and Brents should be back sooner rather than later.
— In 1-on-1 drills pitting wide receivers against defensive backs, the following is how each rep went, with a "win" being rewarded to a receiver for a catch but any non-catch (other than a penalty) going to the defense: Kenny Moore II def. Michael Pittman Jr.; Isaiah McKenzie def. Tony Brown; Alec Pierce def. Dallis Flowers; Ashton Dulin def. Darrell Baker Jr.; Josh Downs def. Chris Lammons; Mike Strachan def. Kevin Toliver II; Breshad Perriman def. Jaylon Jones; Michael Tutsie def. Ethan Fernea; Isaac Taylor-Stuart def. Vyncint Smith (interception); Malik Turner def. Darrell Baker Jr.; Kody Case def. Michael Tutsie; Kevin Toliver II def. Johnny King; Juwann Winfree def. Jaylon Jones; Tony Brown def. Isaiah McKenzie; Alec Pierce def. Dallis Flowers; Kenny Moore II def. Michael Pittman Jr.; Josh Downs def. Chris Lammons; Mike Strachan def. Isaac Taylor-Stuart
— The 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills focused primarily on tight red zone, 3rd-and-short, and 3rd down.
OFFENSE
— Richardson received all of the first-team reps in his return to practice, but as should be expected for an inexperienced rookie, he had his first shaky day of camp, with his accuracy leaning into inconsistency. It appeared to be more of an issue with timing than things like mechanics and footwork. Richardson went 5-of-13 passing (38.5%) with completions with Michael Pittman Jr. (2), Isaiah McKenzie, Will Mallory, and Malik Turner. That included an interception near the end of practice that bounced off of McTelvin Agim's helmet into Khalid Kareem's hands. Richardson did have some nice plays, of course, including his first completion of the day, which was a gain of roughly 30 yards to Pittman near the left hash as well as a completion to Mo Alie-Cox along the left sideline for about 15-20 yards.
— Gardner Minshew went 9-of-11 passing (81.8%) with completions to Breshad Perriman (3), Josh Downs, Kylen Granson, Mike Strachan, Pharaoh Brown, McKenzie, and Evan Hull. The first three throws of Minshew's day were touchdowns coming in the tight red zone from the 3-yard line to Downs, Granson, and Strachan. Minshew did throw the first interception of camp (from live drills). He threw a short pass near the line of scrimmage, but linebacker Segun Olubi jumped and grabbed the ball, returning it a short distance back to the end zone for a pick-six. There was another play where Minshew lofted an intermediate pass along the left side in between defenders to Perriman, who turned upfield for a sizable gain. Linebacker Grant Stuard appeared to be furious with allowing the catch, screaming at himself several times before the next rep.
— The primary theoretical first-unit offensive players were as follows: Anthony Richardson (QB), Deon Jackson (RB), Michael Pittman Jr. (WR), Alec Pierce (WR), Mo Alie-Cox (TE), Kylen Granson (TE), Bernhard Raimann (LT), Quenton Nelson (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (RG), and Braden Smith (RT). Evan Hull (RB), Jake Funk (RB), Zavier Scott (RB), Josh Downs (WR), Isaiah McKenzie (WR), Ashton Dulin (WR), Mike Strachan (WR), and Drew Ogletree (TE) all got some reps as well.
— Without Taylor and Moss, the onus is on Jackson, Hull, Funk, Scott, and newcomer Toriano Clinton (signed Tuesday) to step up in the backfield, and overall they're doing well. The only runner who didn't get first-team reps on Tuesday was Clinton, but it was his first day with the team.
— The second and third-unit lines had slight adjustments made with Ekiyor out. The second line featured Arlington Hambright (LT), Carter O'Donnell (LG), Danny Pinter (C), Wesley French (RG), and Blake Freeland (RT). The third group was Matthew Vanderslice (LT), Wesley French (LG), Dakoda Shepley (C), Carter O'Donnell (RG), and Jordan Murray (RT).
— We haven't had any days with a standout receiver yet but Strachan put his stamp on Tuesday's practice through 1-on-1 drills, 7-on-7s, and 11-on-11s. The best part about his performance for a player like him on the fringe of the roster, was he used his strengths to stand out, such as using his large frame (6'5", 225) and catch radius to high-point passes and box-out defenders.
DEFENSE
— The primary theoretical first-unit defensive players were as follows: Dayo Odeyingbo (DE), DeForest Buckner (DT), Grover Stewart (DT), Kwity Paye (DE), Zaire Franklin (LB), Kenny Moore II (NCB), Dallis Flowers (CB), Darrell Baker Jr. (CB), Rodney Thomas II (FS), and Nick Cross (SS). With Speed leaving early in practice and Leonard not yet partaking in full-contact 11-on-11s, Grant Stuard, Segun Olubi, and Jo Jo Domann all saw increased reps.
— The defense is really embracing the increased physicality. During the first session of 11-on-11s while backed up on their own 3-yard line, Franklin and Stewart powered ahead to stop Jackson from making any headway into the trenches.
— There were some solid performances from the defensive front. End Genard Avery stood out particularly after generating a couple of would-be sacks as a member of both the first and second units. End Al-Quadin Muhammad and Agim also both strung together consecutive days of having would-be sacks. Muhammad had one near the very end of practice that was a strip-sack of quarterback Sam Ehlinger.
— With Brents and Rush out, "the third" rookie cornerback, Jones, has taken advantage of his reps with the second and third units. On one play today, Scott dropped a screen pass and Jones immediately laid a big hit on him, much to the delight of his defensive teammates.
— Blackmon has been out since the beginning of camp but is still very involved. During 11-on-11s and 7-on-7s, he can be seen on the sideline behind the defensive backs, communicating to them and even reacting in an animated fashion to big plays. The guy definitely wants to get back out there.
SPECIAL TEAMS
— Special teams focused on kickoff and punt returns. Flowers, Dulin, McKenzie, and Downs were the return men on kickoffs with McKenzie and Downs going back for punts. Brown and Smith also took reps where they fielded punts that were intentionally kicked short of the intended return man.
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