Anthony Richardson didn’t sugarcoat his preseason outing, and the Colts quarterback made it clear he expects more from himself after a night that included both an interception and a lost fumble.
“I don’t even think I played that well, honestly,” Richardson said, via Pro Football Talk. “Fumble, interception early.
I’ve got to limit the turnovers. You can’t win games with multiple turnovers.
So I don’t think I played that well today. It was decent, we moved the ball a little bit, but I think we can definitely improve.”
Colts coach Shane Steichen saw enough positive work to balance out the mistakes, even if the turnovers ultimately swung the story.
“He did some good things. Obviously we were moving the ball efficiently.
The turnovers hurt us, the fumble down there,” Steichen noted. “It’s hard to maintain drives when you’re turning the ball over, but overall I think he did a lot of good things.”
In Jacksonville, Jaguars head coach Liam Coen said quarterback Nick Mullens is likely to miss the rest of the week. He also said offensive tackle Chuma Edoga, who is dealing with a leg injury, could return at some point during camp.
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans was asked whether wide receiver Tank Dell needs a preseason game before the regular season begins, and he made it clear the team is taking a flexible approach.
“ Tank Dell is on his own plan. So however that looks, whatever it entails, it’ll all be geared toward what’s best for Tank Dell.”
In Tennessee, Titans coach Robert Saleh said quarterback Cam Ward looked sped up in the game compared to what he has shown throughout training camp.
“It felt like his decisions were right, it just felt like he was a little sped up more than he had been in camp,” Saleh said. “It’s first time live bullets.
It looked like his mechanics were a little more sped up than it has been, which is good because we can go correct it, which is what the preseason is for. I’m sure he’ll look back at it and see that the protection was pretty good and he could have went through his process a little bit better.”
Ward said the Titans were sharp on the ground, but he wants more harmony in the passing game before the offense really clicks.
“We were real good in the run game, real sound like we’ve been all camp. We’ve got to continue to clean up things in the pass game, with myself and my receivers seeing eye to eye,” Ward told reporters.
“I’ve got to continue to give them better chances, making plays. I think once we get that we’ll be really good.”
In Other News...
Colts Backup O-Line Battle Is Heating Up At The Right Time
The Colts have kept busy along the offensive line, bringing in veteran guard Will Hernandez along with tackles Trey Wedig and DAnte Smith for workouts as they look to sort through their backup options. Hernandez, 30, brings experience from his time with the Giants and Cardinals, while Wedig and Smith come in as younger tackle options with backgrounds tied to the Rams, Cardinals and Bengals organizations.
For a team trying to stay sturdy up front, these evaluations matter even in the margins. Indianapolis is still weighing how those pieces fit, and the timing suggests the Colts are trying to add depth before any real need turns into a problem. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Add Proven WR As Pressure Builds Around Injury Concerns
The Colts kept building out their receiver room by adding Keenan Allen on a one-year contract, bringing in a veteran who has spent his career with the Chargers and arrives with six Pro Bowl nods on his rsum. Allen gives Indianapolis a proven target and some much-needed depth at a spot that has been watched closely in camp, especially with the passing game still sorting out its pieces.
Alec Pierces ankle injury has made that need even more apparent, with his status lingering as a concern as training camp unfolds. Allens arrival gives the Colts a steady option to lean on while they wait for more clarity at receiver, and his career production, 1,055 catches, 12,051 yards and 70 touchdowns, is the kind of track record that makes the move feel like more than just insurance. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Linebacker Battle Is Heating Up After An Encouraging Start
Shane Steichen had reason to come away encouraged after the Colts first preseason game against New England, especially with how the linebacker group handled itself. The unit was active from the start, stayed engaged against the run and generally kept the Patriots from finding much easy room underneath, which is exactly the kind of early preseason baseline a coaching staff wants while sorting out a young, rotating position group.
The competition behind the expected starters remains the bigger storyline, with CJ Allen and Akeen Davis-Gaither positioned to open the year in front while the rest of the room keeps pushing for reserve snaps. Bryce Boettcher, Jaylon Carlies and Austin Ajiake all helped make the case that the depth chart could still shift, and the next few weeks should reveal whether that opening performance was a one-night flash or the start of a real battle. [Read more 🡒]