The Colts’ preseason opener against the Patriots was less about the scoreboard and more about who made a case for more work. And a few players did exactly that, turning one August game into a meaningful step forward in camp.
Anthony Richardson headlined the group. He finished 11-of-14 through the air, and the completions weren’t just empty throws - four different pass catchers hauled in receptions of at least 16 yards. He also added 53 rushing yards and a touchdown, giving the offense the kind of dual-threat spark that showed up again and again in the final minutes of the first half, when Indianapolis put together nearly two scoring drives.
It wasn’t spotless. Richardson lost a fumble, and there was another play where Coleman Owen should have made the catch after the ball got through his hands, even though the throw was a little off target. Still, it was probably Richardson’s best outing of the summer, and it gave him a strong push in the battle for the backup quarterback role.
Late in the game, Anderson Castle took his turn and made it count. He ran nine times for 47 yards, including an 18-yard burst, and his 5.2 yards per carry led all Colts running backs.
Will Mallory kept building on the momentum he has shown in recent practices. Against New England, he caught six of seven targets for 80 yards, with a long grab of 19 yards. No Colts pass catcher came close to matching that production; Mallory outgained the team’s second-leading receiver by 51 yards.
On defense, Caden Curry stuffed the stat sheet. He logged six tackles against the run, three of them solo, and finished with two tackles for loss.
He also produced a sack, three quarterback hits and two pass deflections. For a Colts defense looking for more juice in the pass rush, Curry’s night was the kind that should earn him more chances.
Spencer Shrader closed the list by making his mark in the kicking competition. He entered the game at a disadvantage to Blake Grupe, but after Grupe went 0-for-1 in the first half, Shrader answered by going 2-for-2. That included a 61-yard kick late to tie the game, and the battle remains wide open.
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Colts Camp Sleeper Is Forcing A Tough Backfield Decision
Anderson Castle has spent training camp turning a quiet roster battle into a real conversation. The undrafted rookie running back has flashed enough in practice and in the first preseason game to make the Colts take notice, even in a backfield that already features Jonathan Taylor, Seth McGowan and DJ Giddens. For a player who was underused in college, simply getting this kind of traction in August is a notable step.
Castles path now comes down to whether he can keep stacking those same kinds of days when the games matter a little more. Indianapolis still has choices to make with its backfield, and the next preseason outings will go a long way in shaping how many runners the team decides to carry into the season. For a camp sleeper, that is the difference between a nice story and a lasting one. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Roster Battle Suddenly Feels Far Less Settled After Preseason Debut
The Colts first preseason game, paired with the week of joint-practice work, gave the roster conversation a much sharper edge. An updated 53-man projection now sorts the roster by position and tries to account for what has been seen so far, from quarterback spots with Daniel Jones, Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson to a running back group built around Jonathan Taylor and a pair of names fighting to stay in the picture.
Those early reads are already changing the feel of the competition. The projection is still just that, a projection, but it reflects how quickly the margins can shift once live reps begin, and how a strong showing in August can make a previously tidy depth chart look much less settled by the time cutdown decisions start coming due. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Rookies Are Already Making The Roster Battle Harder To Ignore
The first preseason game against the New England Patriots gave the Colts an early look at how much their rookie class can shape the roster conversation. Several first-year players showed up in meaningful ways, with defensive contributions like tackles and sacks mixed in with offensive snaps that hinted at how quickly some of these newcomers are adjusting to the speed of the NFL. For a team still sorting out depth and roles, those flashes mattered.
Injuries also added another layer to the evaluation, since availability is part of the equation for rookies trying to carve out a spot. What stood out most was not just the box-score production, but the way certain players flashed versatility and seemed to make a case for a bigger role than anyone might have expected this early. If that trend holds through the rest of the preseason, the Colts could have a tougher time than planned narrowing down the roster. [Read more 🡒]