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INDIANAPOLIS – We are nearly halfway through the Colts 2019 Training Camp.
With 7 of 16 camp practices (4 in full pads) in the books, there’s been several storylines emerging from Grand Park.
Here are 6 takeaways from the Colts’ first week of camp:
1. No Team Work For Andrew Luck
Saturday is the mid-way point of the 2019 Training Camp and Andrew Luck remains the only Colts player to have yet to compete in a single 11-on-11 session this offseason.
While Luck didn’t practice this week, he did do some work at Grand Park with famed quarterback guru Tom House.
But questions remain on when Luck will get back to practice, plus if/when he will be ready to test that calf out more than he did in his 3 limited practices at camp so far.
We know Luck won’t play in Thursday’s preseason opener and him suiting up for any preseason game this month is very much up in the air.
2. Jabaal Sheard’s Injury Watch
Outside of Luck’s calf setback, the biggest injury news from camp has been the knee injury for Jabaal Sheard.
No Colts player has been more durable over the last two seasons than Sheard, who will ‘miss some time’ after getting hurt on the first day of camp.
It remains to be seen when Sheard will actually return to the field, as Al-Quadin Muhammad has filled in as the starter at left defensive end.
Outside of Sheard, the Colts have been relatively healthy with Spencer Ware (muscle) the only other guy known to be out for a few more practices.
3. Lost Rapport For Devin Funchess, Parris Campbell
The Colts have had 20 team practices this offseason.
Devin Funchess and Parris Campbell have yet to catch balls from Andrew Luck in any of those full team sessions.
The calf issue for Luck has kept him from building much of a rapport with two key targets in 2019.
After missing the spring and not being able to get together with his receivers in the summer, Luck has now missed out on even more opportunities with Funchess and Campbell.
4. Defense Mixing and Matching
Matt Eberflus and his respective defensive assistants have done a lot of mixing and matching with personnel in the first week of camp.
While getting very close to a starting 11 could probably be carved out right now, some rookies are emerging (see more below).
The starting defensive line, pending Jabaal Sheard’s health, is known.
For now, the linebacker duo who will be on the field the most is Darius Leonard and Anthony Walker.
And the main 4 in the secondary is pretty set.
But you still have roles to be decided with your third-down rush group, at SAM linebacker, the nickel and dime packages.
5. Deon Cain’s Health
With no knee brace, Deon Cain has participated in 5 of the 7 practices so far at Grand Park, showing zero favoritism towards his injured knee.
Physically, Cain hardly looks like a guy who tore his ACL less than a year ago. And he admits that as well.
But he also says there’s some rust that he is having to knock off.
There have been nice moments for Cain, but he also struggled with a couple of drops on Wednesday.
From a team reps standpoint, Cain is still down on depth chart.
August is massive for him in getting back into game action, while trying to prove that he can handle a regular season role, beginning in Week One.
6. Defensive Rookies Emerge
It’s taken a handful of practices, but the defensive rookies of the Colts are starting to come.
We know Rock Ya-Sin is still in a crowded competition for the third cornerback spot in the nickel package.
But the likes of S-Khari Willis, LB-Bobby Okereke and LB-E.J. Speed have positioned themselves to possibly earn some rookie playing time.
Okereke is coming off a notable practice on Thursday, which was actually the first time we ssaw him earn consistent reps at the MIKE position. Before Thursday, Anthony Walker was taking nearly all of those starting reps.
At safety, Willis and George Odum appear to be next up behind Clayton Geathers. At times, the Colts have used Willis as a dime safety, next to Mallik Hooker, when Geathers slides down to his dime linebacker role.
Speed is, easily, the defensive surprise of Week One at Grand Park. The Colts have had him as their starting SAM linebacker the last few days, which is a position switch from the backup WILL spot he was thought to occupy this year. The Colts are enamored with the size, speed and striking ability of their 5th round pick. If the mental side of things progress as well, Speed could have a defensive role as a rookie.
