INDIANAPOLIS - The Colts were pushed indoors by Mother Nature on Saturday, and the team’s longest practice of training camp so far - 90 minutes - still managed to produce a clear snapshot of where things stand in the first week.
The biggest headline was away from the field. Shane Steichen was not at practice because of a personal matter, and he had been set to meet with the media after the Colts’ fourth workout of camp. The team is off Sunday and returns to the field Monday before a busy stretch next week that includes sessions on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
On the field, Daniel Jones kept rolling. He went 14 of 17 and looked steady throughout, finishing with a long, controlled drive late in practice that included six straight completions.
The march never really turned into anything explosive - it was more quick-game and short stuff - and Laiatu Latu ended it with a “sack.” Even so, Jones has now taken every starting rep through the first four days of camp, and there’s been no visible issue with his mobility or performance.
The offense got early red-zone wins from two familiar playmakers. Tyler Warren hauled in a leaping touchdown, and Josh Downs finished off a sharp route for another score.
The defense answered later, with Justin Walley breaking up a pass intended for Downs before Sauce Gardner closed down a ball over the middle to the 5-9 Downs. That size difference was hard to miss.
Behind Jones, Riley Leonard got the bulk of the second-team work Saturday, which marked a change from the first three days and is something worth watching as camp moves into Week 2. The reserve offense had a rough time overall in red-zone and drive situations, though Leonard did hit Nick Westbrook-Ikhine on a deep ball that covered roughly 50 yards with Johnathan Edwards and Jonathan Owens in coverage. Outside of that, there wasn’t much to write home about from those units.
A few other depth-chart wrinkles showed up too. Second-year safety Hunter Wohler had been the main starting safety next to Cam Bynum through the first three days, but rookie A.J.
Haulcy got the starting look Saturday. At linebacker, Akeem Davis-Gaither returned after missing a couple of days with an illness and got some early first-team work, as the Colts continued to rotate heavily at the position.
The rookies made their presence felt in different ways. Seventh-round running back Seth McGowan looked like a player squarely in the mix to back up Jonathan Taylor.
Seventh-round wide receiver Deion Burks flashed for the first time Saturday, turning heads in one-on-ones and again in team drills. On the starting offense, the Colts lined up with Daniel Jones at quarterback, Jonathan Taylor at running back, Laquon Treadwell, Josh Downs and Ashton Dulin at receiver, Tyler Warren at tight end, and Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, Matt Goncalves and Jalen Travis across the line.
Defensively, the starters were Laiatu Latu, Grover Stewart, Colby Wodden and Arden Key up front, with Akeem Davis-Gaither and CJ Allen at linebacker, Justin Walley, Charvarius Ward Sr. and Sauce Gardner at corner, and Cam Bynum and Hunter Wohler at safety. When the Colts split the field for team periods, the top reserve defenders were Wohler, Cam Taylor-Britt, Bryce Boettcher and Adetomiwa Adebawore.
There was one issue that stood out as a real concern through the first four days - and it’s not new. The backup snaps have been messy, with several centers involved and both Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson Sr. dealing with errant exchanges and clean catches. Some of the mistakes have been basic, and they’ve shown up repeatedly.
Among the players who stood out Saturday were Seth McGowan, Grover Stewart, Colby Wooden, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Jonathan Owens.
The injury list was short but notable. Alec Pierce remained out on PUP with a calf issue, while Cameron Mitchell and Derrick Nnadi did not appear to participate because of undisclosed injuries.
The Colts are scheduled to put on full pads for the first time Monday morning, beginning a stretch that should bring plenty of physical work over the final nine Grand Park practices. After four straight days to open camp, they won’t have more than two practices in a row the rest of the way.
In Other News...
Anthony Richardson Suddenly Has Colts Fans Watching A Very Uncomfortable Situation
Anthony Richardsons place in Indianapolis was already a source of intrigue before camp opened, and the first few days have only made the conversation louder. The former first-round quarterback is back on the roster, but his early training camp throws have drawn fresh scrutiny because the accuracy issues that have followed him are once again front and center.
The timing matters, too, because his contract creates a tricky backdrop for any potential move. With a roster bonus built into the deal during the early part of camp, the Colts are staring at a situation that could affect when they would even be able to consider trade options, while also knowing Richardsons value is tied directly to how he looks on the field right now. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Downs Just Sent A Strong Message About Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones has spent training camp working his way back into the Colts offense, and the early signs have been encouraging. The quarterback is participating in 11-on-11 drills as he continues to recover from an Achilles injury, and Indianapolis has every reason to keep a close eye on how he looks after committing to him on a two-year contract.
Josh Downs added to that optimism with a simple but important assessment of where Jones stands. The receiver said Jones looks fully recovered and ready to play, which matters for a Colts offense that is expected to go as far as its quarterback can take it this season. The lingering question now is how that health translates once the pace picks up and the hits start coming for real. [Read more 🡒]
Charvarius Ward Just Revealed What Brought Him Back To Colts Camp
Charvarius Wards return to Colts camp has carried a different kind of weight this summer. After dealing with multiple concussions and enduring personal loss, the veteran cornerback said he was about 85% sure he would walk away after the 2025 season, a reminder of how fragile the last stretch of a career can feel even for a proven defender. Instead, Ward has shown up with renewed purpose, and his early work in training camp has been one of the more encouraging developments for Indianapolis.
What pulled him back, by his own account, was his children, and that kind of motivation can matter as much as anything on a practice field. It also helps that Ward has started well alongside Sauce Gardner, giving the Colts a cornerback pairing worth watching closely as camp unfolds. Wards play last season showed he can still hold up against top competition, allowing completions on 57% of the targets sent his way while breaking up seven passes in seven games. [Read more 🡒]