Colts Camp Day 1: Anthony Richardson Takes Starting Reps

NFL: JUL 27 Colts Training Camp — Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty

INDIANAPOLIS – A picture perfect summer day greeted the Colts to start their 2025 training camp.

With a morning practice on Wednesday, the Colts will have their longest stretch of camp in this opening week, having 4 straight sessions through Saturday.

Here are some takeaways from Day 1 of Colts training camp:

-The Colts passing offense looked like a Day 1 operation on Wednesday. Some inaccuracy, way too many drops and just a largely inefficient afternoon of work. Let’s begin with the quarterback competition before isolating out each guy. Even though Daniel Jones got the initial look with the starters on Wednesday, it was Anthony Richardson getting one more period with the first unit, than Jones. Shane Steichen said after practice that will flip-flop on Thursday, so expect the two quarterbacks to get an even amount of starting reps as camp moves along. The volume scale back from Richardson on Wednesday occurred during the individual period, which Steichen said is the plan. This makes total sense, with the Colts wanting Richardson to get more throws in the actual 11-on-11 periods.

-Richardson was 4-of-11 (4-of-8) with 3 clear drops (Ashton Dulin, Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr.). As Richardson took part in his first practice since late May you saw some struggles in proper accuracy/timing, although his pass catchers hardly helped him. Richardson’s 11 team throws came across three periods (two periods with the starters). Richardson’s 4 completions were to: Michael Pittman Jr. (2), Anthony Gould, Alec Pierce. Notably, the Grand Park crowd had quite a positive audible reaction whenever it was time for Richardson to quarterback the Colts on Wednesday. Both Richardson and Jones noticed that after practice.

-Jones finished his day 6-of-8 (1-of-3 with the starters), with one clear highlight. That was a beautiful over the shoulder throw with the second-team offense into the striding hands of Anthony Gould for a completion that would have been at least 30 yards. Outside of that, it was mostly a dink and dunk day for Jones with some read-pass-option focus helping his day. Jones was 1-of-3 with the starters before completing all 5 of his passes with the second unit. Surprisingly, Jones struggled in a 7-on-7 session, late on an out pass to Josh Downs that Kenny Moore II turned into a spectacular one-handed interception. Linebacker Austin Ajake got his hands on another Jones pass during 7-on-7. Jones completed his 6 passes to Alec Pierce, AD Mitchell, Anthony Gould, Ashton Dulin, Salvon Ahmed and Drew Ogletree.

-You won’t find Shane Steichen talk about many players in the manner he talks about rookie cornerback Justin Walley. “He’s a pretty damn good player,” Steichen said of the 3^rd round pick out of Minnesota on Wednesday. Those post-practice words on Wednesday came after Walley was the 3^rd cornerback (alongside Kenny Moore II and Charvarius Ward), which is a pseudo starter.

-Chris Ballard says he’s looking forward to some “unknown” names to emerge at linebacker. After a spring full of starting reps, veteran special teamer Joe Bachie shined on Wednesday in pass coverage, including disrupting a pass intended for Tyler Warren. With Zaire Franklin still sidelined, Cam McGrone and Bachie have gotten some extended starting run this offseason.

-Charavrius Ward made a strong first impression at the open of training camp. Ward had nice coverage down the sideline on Alec Pierce. Later, he was “sticky” (Shane Steichen’s word) in breaking up a pass intended for Michael Pittman Jr.

-What does a more physical training camp look like for Shane Steichen? “As you guys see the practice as we get going and the pads come on next week, obviously we have the ramp up period this week, you guys will see some sudden change periods, some long-drive drills, we will have more situational scrimmage stuff, so it’ll be really good,” the third-year head coach said on Wednesday. “I want to make sure we come out of this in tip-top shape for Week 1. That’s one of the goals.”

-The expectation is a true 1 vs. 1 starting battle at center. On Wednesday it was Tanor Bortolini getting the first look with the starters. Will Danny Pinter get a chance with the first unit then on Thursday? That’s the pattern we saw in the spring.

-Here is how the starting offense looked on Wednesday: QB-Daniel Jones, RB-Jonathan Taylor, WR-Michael Pittman Jr., WR-Alec Pierce, WR-Josh Downs, TE-Tyler Warren, LT-Bernhard Raimann, LG-Quenton Nelson, C-Tanor Botolini, RG-Matt Goncalves, RT-Braden Smith

-Here is how the starting defense looked on Wednesday: DE-Laiatau Latu, DT-Grover Stewart, DT-DeForest Buckner, DE-Kwity Paye, LB-Cam McGrone, LB-Jaylon Carlies, CB-Kenny Moore II, CB-Charvarius Ward, CB-Justin Walley, S-Cam Bynum, S-Nick Cross.

-Guys that stood out at Wednesday’s practice: DT-Grover Stewart, CB-Justin Walley, RB-Tyler Goodson, LB-Joe Bachie.

Injury Report: The following players did not appear to be participating at Wednesday’s practice: LB-Zaire Franklin (ankle).

2025 Colts Training Camp Schedule

-7/24 (Thursday): 10:00-11:00 AM practice

-7/25 (Friday): 10:00-11:15 practice

-7/26 (Saturday): 4:00-5:30 PM practice

-7/28 (Monday): 10:00-11:15 AM practice

-7/29 (Tuesday): 10:00-11:30 AM practice

-7/31 (Thursday): 8:00-10:00 PM practice

-8/2 (Saturday): 10:00-11:35 AM practice

-8/3 (Sunday): 10:00-11:30 AM practice

-8/5 (Tuesday): Joint practice vs. Ravens, in Baltimore