Colts Training Camp Roundup: Daniel Jones Stays Red-Hot as Position Battles develop

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Today’s practice: Tuesday, Aug. 4th — Second day of pads

The Indianapolis Colts entered their second day of padded practices Tuesday, and with the intensity continuing to rise, several of the team’s most important position battles are beginning to become more readable as to who might be taking the lead.

From Daniel Jones continuing his impressive stretch of camp to Justin Walley battling Josh Downs in one-on-ones, the Colts had plenty to take away from Tuesday’s practice. Meanwhile, Anthony Richardson’s inconsistencies continued to raise questions, while the kicking and backup running back competitions continued to develop.

The day began with several notable absences.

Cornerback Sauce Gardner missed practice due to an illness, while running back D.J. Giddens and safety/linebacker Hunter Wohler were both sidelined with hamstring injuries. Linebacker Jaylon Carlies was also absent due to a personal matter, while wide receiver Eli Pancol, defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi and defensive tackle Tim Smith did not practice. 

While it is never ideal to see multiple players miss practice, the Colts must take the long view with their roster. Much like the approach Indianapolis has taken with wide receiver Alec Pierce, preserving the health of players and avoiding the possibility of turning a minor injury into something more serious is more important than forcing players onto the field during the first week of August. After all, that is exactly what burned them last year as injuries stacked; chaos followed.

There is still a long way to go before the regular season.

With that said, the players who did take the field provided plenty to talk about.

Walley and Downs Deliver One of the Day’s Best Reps

One of the more exciting moments of Tuesday’s practice came during the Colts’ one-on-one period, when Justin Walley lined up against receiver Josh Downs.

It is no secret now that Downs is expected to be one of Daniel Jones’ primary weapons in the passing game, while Walley is attempting to establish himself as the Colts’ answer at nickel following the departure of Kenny Moore.

The two put together an excellent rep.

Jones managed to sneak a ball toward Downs, who made an impressive one-handed catch while being nearly perfectly covered by Walley.

It was exactly the type of rep the Colts want to see from both players.

Downs showed why he is considered one of the team’s most dangerous receiving weapons, while Walley demonstrated that he can stay with a talented slot receiver even when the quarterback gives his target an opportunity to make a difficult play.

For Jones, Downs could quickly become his new No. 2 weapon in the passing game. For Walley, these are the types of matchups that can help him prove he is capable of stepping into the role left behind by Moore.

Jones Continues to Dominate

Jones continued his impressive training camp during the first 11-on-11 period of the day.

His opening play immediately produced a big play, as Jones connected with fan-favorite receiver Laquon Treadwell on a deep ball.

The offense was not the only side making an impression, however.

Rookie linebacker Bryce Boettcher managed to get to Jones before the quarterback could release the football, producing another impressive rep for the defense.

Jones continues to find receivers even when the defense is providing tight coverage, while Indianapolis’ defenders continue to show that they can make life difficult for the quarterback.

The defense has consistently surveyed the entire field with lockdown coverage, forcing Jones to make precise throws into tight windows.

And Jones has continued to do exactly that.

Later, during the final 11-on-11 period, Jones delivered what sports anchor Dominic Miranda described as “his best throw of camp.”

Jones dropped a beautiful 25-yard pass to tight end Tyler Warren.

It was an incredible throw and catch between what has quickly become one of the Colts’ most reliable quarterback-target combinations.

Warren has continued to show why Indianapolis views him as such an important part of the offense, while Jones has repeatedly demonstrated the accuracy and touch needed to get the ball to him.

Only a few plays later, Jones connected with what appears to be the Colts’ newest deep threat, Ashton Dulin.

The sequence was another example of Jones breaking down an otherwise solid defense with the kind of accuracy and decisiveness expected from a star quarterback.

Jones finished his day 5-for-5, connecting with Warren and Indianapolis’ other tight end weapons, Mo Alie-Cox and Will Mallory, to further solidify another impressive practice.

At this point, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore how consistent Jones has been.

Richardson Continues to Struggle

While Jones continues to impress, the other side of the quarterback room remains a significantly different story.

Both Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard connected with rookie receiver Deion Burks for good gains Tuesday, showcasing Burks’ ability to contribute in various roles.

Burks later showed that versatility again in the return game, producing some good punt returns during practice.

But the difference between Richardson and Leonard came after those individual plays.

Leonard continued his progression on the following snaps, keeping the offense moving and continuing to work through his reads.

Richardson, on the other hand, continued to match the inconsistencies that have followed him through the previous days of camp.

Bobbling snaps and making misreads have become increasingly noticeable for the fourth-year quarterback, who is entering what could be described as a make-or-break period of his career.

The physical talent is still there. But consistency is what Indianapolis needs.

You can advocate for the young quarterback all you want, but what has happened with Richardson throughout camp thus far is concerning.

There is still time for him to turn things around, but the margin for error is shrinking. Every practice is another opportunity for Richardson to prove that he can consistently execute the fundamentals, make the correct reads, and operate the offense without the mistakes that have continued to appear. Instead, you have head coach Shane Steichen ending Richardson’s period abruptly due to the number of mistakes made.

Grupe Continues to Lead the Kicking Competition

The kicking competition between Blake Grupe and Spencer Shrader continues to lean toward Grupe.

Grupe has yet to miss a kick during training camp, improving to 12-for-12 on his attempts.

Shrader, meanwhile, has struggled more consistently from long distance and currently sits at 9-for-12.

That does not mean the competition is over, but Grupe has certainly created some separation.

If Shrader wants to win the job, he will have to begin creating consistency in just about every area possible, particularly from longer distances.

The Colts have indicated that both kickers will receive opportunities throughout camp, so Shrader still has time to change the narrative.

For now, however, Grupe holds the advantage.

McGowan Continues to Separate Himself

The Colts’ battle for the No. 2 running back position also appears to be taking shape.

Rookie running back Seth McGowan continues to distance himself from D.J. Giddens, establishing a clear advantage as a downhill runner.

As mentioned in yesterday’s roundup, McGowan’s physical running style has been one of the more noticeable aspects of his game.

He consistently attacks the line of scrimmage and runs downhill with authority, giving Indianapolis a different style of back behind Jonathan Taylor.

But if McGowan wants to completely seal the competition, there is another part of his game he needs to establish.

Pass catching.

Being able to contribute in the passing game will be critical if McGowan wants to fully take control of the RB2 position.

The Colts need a backup running back who can stay on the field without forcing the offense to change its tendencies. If McGowan can prove that he can consistently catch passes and contribute in protection, he will have a much stronger case to become Taylor’s primary backup.

For now, however, McGowan appears to be creating some separation.

Jonathan Taylor’s case for a new contract

But perhaps the biggest story today was Bijan Robinson being signed to a $75 million dollar extension, effectively re-setting the market this year for running backs.  

meaning Jonathan Taylor’s expectations will have moved for a possible deal.

Taylor after practice remained positive but more or less said he would be speaking to his agent very soon. While logically, it makes sense for the Colts to pay him a bit less than Robinson due to age, injury risk and so on so forth. It feels as if Taylor has control of the situation, the ball is in his court.

And with last season as an example, Taylor has every reason to make the Colts listen to every one of his demands.

But we will see what Thursday’s night practice holds for all of the developing Colt's stories

that training camp has brought so far.

If you're interested in being notified when the next article comes out, be sure to scroll down to the "Free Subscription" form and subscribe, we hope you enjoyed!