Colts Camp Notebook Day 9: Riley Leonard Shines
INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts had their final practice in Grand Park for the next week, as their attention now shifts to Baltimore for Thursday’s preseason opener.
It was another full-padded session on Sunday morning, with the Colts having just 4 practices left at Grand Park.
Here are some takeaways from Day 9 of Colts training camp:
-With the necessary caveat the Colts were once again down 3 of their top 5 cornerbacks on Sunday, it was a needed bounce back practice for the quarterbacks, especially Anthony Richardson. It was Richardson who received more of the starting work on Sunday (two starting team periods vs. one for Daniel Jones), going 10-of-14 (unofficially, 7-of-9 with the starters). It wasn’t an overly flashy day from Richardson. He hit a nice crosser to Alec Pierce and was nearly picked late in practice by Cam Bynum. But he also converted an early red-zone period with a touchdown toss to RB-Ulysses Bentley IV and led a field goal drive during the final session of the day. Richardson’s 10 completions went to: Josh Downs (2), LaQuon Treadwell, Ulysses Bentley IV, Jelani Woods, Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox, Alec Pierce, Ashton Dulin, Tyler Goodson. For camp, Richardson is unofficially 61-of-108. He has completed his 61 balls to Michael Pittman Jr. (10), Josh Downs (8), Ashton Dulin (7), Tyler Warren (6), Anthony Gould (5), Will Mallory (3), Drew Ogletree (3), Alec Pierce (3), AD Mitchell (3), D.J, Montgomery (2), LaQuon Treadwell (2), Mo Alie-Cox (2), Jelani Woods (2), Tyler Goodson (2), Jonathan Taylor, D.J. Giddens, Ulysses Bentley IV.
-Oddly, I also had Daniel Jones going (10-of-14, unofficially). Jones completed his 10 passes to: Anthony Gould (2), AD Mitchel (2), Drew Ogleree, Tyler Warren, Mo Alie-Cox, D.J. Giddens, Josh Downs, Alec Pierce. Jones went 6-of-8 in his lone period with the starters. He led a very efficient two-minute drive late in practice, finding Anthony Gould for a couple of chunks to set-up a very manageable 28-yard field goal. Through 9 practices, Jones has largely been what he’s been in his career—more underneath efficient vs. one creating chunk completions. For camp, Jones is 77-of-111 (unofficially), with his completions to Josh Downs (10), Anthony Gould (10), Ashton Dulin (9), AD Mitchell (7), Tyler Warren (6), Will Mallory (4), Khalil Herbert (4), Michael Pittman Jr. (3), Alec Pierce (3), Drew Ogletree (3), D.J. Giddens (3), Drew Ogletree (3), Jonathan Taylor (2), Mo Alie-Cox (2), Salvon Ahmed.
-Really nice practice for rookie QB-Riley Leonard. When the Colts took Leonard in Round 6, they knew development from the pocket was needed, and that’s been evident at Grand Paek. But Leonard led an impressive TD drive midway through practice with TE-Sean McKeown and WR-Coleman Owen on the receiving end of multiple catches. Leonard was chucking it like it was the second half of the national title game against Ohio State. It was an impressive drive in what has been a largely inaccurate camp for Leonard.
-Do we have an open linebacker job next to Zaire Franklin? I don’t think I’m ready to cement Jaylon Carlies in sharpie on the depth chart. Joe Bachie has flashed more than Carlies, who didn’t practice on Sunday. This is something to monitor. Speaking of Franklin, he practiced again on Sunday, progressing to some 7-/on-7 reps.
-Expect both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones to play a “good amount” in Thursdays preseason opener, Shane Steichen said on Sunday. It sounds like whatever the QB plan is for Thursday (Steichen has yet to tell the QBs who will start), the reverse will happen for the second preseason game against Green Bay. While the QB battle will play out in preseason contests, Steichen doesn’t sound like one who needs to see his new defense much in those games. Steichen said the Colts will sit some vets on defense in the preseason and doesn’t feel a big uge to see Lou Anarumo’s starters together for much of the preseason.
-Sunday brought another dispositive day for Laiatu Latu, pressuring from both defensive end spots. Overall, Shane Steichen was very pleased with how his defensive line created some havoc on Sunday.
-Unfortunately, we had one of the uglier injury scenes in quite some time late in Sunday’s practice. During a live tackling third-team period, running back Salvon Ahmed was brought down from behind in what looked to be a hip drop tackle from undrafted safety Trey Washington. The tackle occurred well down the field, just before the end zone. Immediately, Ahmed let out a scream of pain. The players and crowd went silent as Ahmed was tended to. After practice, Shane Steichen called it a “severe leg injury.” Cam Bynum led the team in prayer as Ahmed was receiving medical attention. Chris Ballard went over to Washington, who was also consoled by some of the team’s veteran defenders. Taking guys to the ground is allowed in these periods, but this play was a reason why you saw the hip-drop tackle be banned by the NFL.
-Guys that stood out at Saturday practice: WR-Ashton Dulin, TE-Sean McKeon, DE-Laiatu Latu, RB-Ulysses Bentley IV.
-Here is how the starting offense looked on Sunday: QB-Daniel Jones, RB-Jonathan Taylor, WR-Ashton Dulin, WR-Alec Pierce, WR-Josh Downs, TE-Tyler Warren, LT-Bernhard Raimann, LG-Quenton Nelson, C-Tanor Bortolini, RG-Matt Goncalves, RT-Braden Smith
-Here is how the starting defense looked on Sunday: DE-Samson Ebukam, DT-DeForest Buckner, DT-Grover Stewart, DE-Kwity Paye, LB-Joe Bachie, LB-Cam McGrone, CB-Kenny Moore II, CB-Samuel Womack II, CB-Justin Walley, S-Cam Bynum, S-Nick Cross.
Injury Report: The following players did not appear to be participating on Saturday or got hurt during practice: CB-JuJu Brents (hamstring), CB-Jaylon Jones (hamstring), WR-Michael Pittman Jr. (groin), CB-Charvarius Ward (leg tightness, should be good for Baltimore week), LB-Jaylon Carlies.
2025 Colts Training Camp Schedule
-8/5 (Tuesday): Joint practice vs. Ravens, in Baltimore
-8/7 (Thursday): 1st preseason game at Ravens, 7:00 PM
-8/9 (Saturday): 4:00-5:10 PM practice
-8/10 (Sunday): 4:00-5:30 PM practice
-8/11 (Monday): 4:00-5:40 PM practice
-8/14 (Thursday joint practice with Packers): 3:00-5:00 PM practice, SOLD OUT
-8/16 (Saturday): 2nd preseason game vs. Packers, 1:00 PM
