Colts Training Camp Roundup: Jonathan Taylor's Extension Headlines Competitive Night Practice

AP Photo/Martin Meissner

Today’s practice: Thursday, Aug. 6 — First Night Practice

The Indianapolis Colts took the field Thursday evening for their first night practice of training camp, and the atmosphere matched the occasion.

Not only did the Colts practice under the lights for the first time this summer, but they also incorporated their competitive point-based scoring system, adding another layer of intensity as roster battles continue to heat up.

Before practice even began, however, the biggest news of the day came off the field.

Jonathan Taylor Gets His Extension

The Colts and star running back Jonathan Taylor agreed to a two-year, $44 million contract extension Thursday, putting an end to one of the organization's biggest offseason storylines.

Before training camp opened, speculation surrounded Taylor's future, with many wondering whether he would hold out in hopes of accelerating contract negotiations. Instead, Taylor chose a different approach.

He reported to camp, practiced without distraction and allowed his play to speak for itself.

Just two days after Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson signed a lucrative extension of his own, the Colts rewarded their franchise running back with a new deal that keeps one of the league's premier offensive players in Indianapolis.

For both sides, the agreement feels like a win.

The Colts secure the centerpiece of their offense for the foreseeable future, while Taylor moves another step closer to accomplishing what many fans hope becomes reality—a career spent entirely wearing the Horseshoe.

Taylor celebrated the moment in fitting fashion before practice by handing out free beers to fans of legal drinking age, drawing cheers from the crowd. Moments earlier, owner Carlie Irsay Gordon had announced that Taylor was "here to stay," setting the tone for an energetic night at Grant Park.

Injury Report Remains Worth Monitoring

The Colts once again dealt with a lengthy injury report Thursday.

Linebacker C.J. Allen (undisclosed), linebacker/safety Hunter Wohler (hamstring), defensive tackle Tim Smith (undisclosed), wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (undisclosed), wide receiver Eli Pancol (undisclosed) and running back D.J. Giddens (hamstring) were all unavailable.

Rookie safety A.J. Haulcy also left practice early after appearing to walk gingerly off the field, although he later returned.

While injuries are expected during training camp, Indianapolis has understandably taken a cautious approach. With the regular season still weeks away, preserving players' health is considerably more important than pushing them through practice.

Still, there are a couple of situations worth monitoring.

Hunter Wohler's lingering hamstring issue continues to resemble the injury that bothered him around this time last season, while C.J. Allen's absence raises questions about whether the rookie linebacker is dealing with a nagging issue.

The good news came with the return of cornerback Sauce Gardner, who was back after missing time with an illness, and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi, who returned from a toe injury.

Having Gardner back on the field immediately strengthened the Colts' first-team defense.

Daniel Jones Continues to Shine, Westbrook-Ikhine Continues to Rise

As Carlie Irsay Gordon watched from the sideline, Daniel Jones wasted little time getting the crowd involved.

The quarterback broke off an impressive run that brought fans to their feet before following it with two excellent completions over the middle to Ashton Dulin and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.

Outside of Gardner's consistently outstanding coverage, Jones once again looked remarkably comfortable operating the offense.

The opening 11-on-11 period followed a familiar pattern.

Jones consistently found open receivers while delivering accurate throws into tight windows, continuing what has become one of the biggest storylines of Colts camp.

His mobility also remained on display.

On one play, Jones escaped pressure from Laiatu Latu by rolling to his right before firing a strike to Westbrook-Ikhine for a touchdown.

It was another example of Jones' ability to extend plays while remaining composed outside the pocket.

Westbrook-Ikhine has quietly become one of Jones' favorite red-zone targets throughout camp.

That role may sound familiar.

Former Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. filled a similar role during Jones' 2025 offense, and the way Shane Steichen and offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter continue to utilize Westbrook-Ikhine suggests they value many of the same traits.

Westbrook-Ikhine continued his impressive evening by making contested catches against both Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward, further strengthening his case as one of the more dependable receivers battling for a roster spot.

Jones also reminded everyone that his athleticism remains intact.

The veteran quarterback scrambled more than 20 yards up the middle during one sequence, an encouraging sight considering he is less than a year removed from Achilles surgery.

His confidence moving around the pocket continues to grow with every practice.

Jones later connected with Tyler Warren on another perfectly placed throw before finding running back Ulysses Bentley IV for a touchdown of more than 20 yards.

The offense attempted to duplicate that success on its next possession but was stopped by what would have been a sack from rookie linebacker Bryce Boettcher, along with another impressive defensive stand.

That balance has become one of the more encouraging developments of camp.

Jones has consistently challenged the defense, but Indianapolis' young defenders have continued answering with pressure and disciplined coverage.

McGowan Continues to Build Momentum

Another player continuing to generate attention is rookie running back Seth McGowan.

McGowan again received meaningful work with the first-team offense after another impressive practice.

His physical running style, relentless effort and downhill mentality have steadily helped him separate himself in the battle for the No. 2 running back position behind Jonathan Taylor.

If he continues playing at this level, that competition may become increasingly difficult for anyone else to win.

Kicking Battle Tightens

The kicking competition produced another interesting development Thursday.

Both Blake Grupe and Spencer Shrader finished 4-for-5 on field-goal attempts, with each missing from 53 yards after hooking the kick left.

The miss was particularly noteworthy for Grupe because it marked his first missed kick of training camp.

Even so, Grupe continues to hold the statistical advantage.

Through Thursday night, Grupe is 16-for-17, while Shrader sits at 13-for-17.

The competition remains alive, but Grupe continues to have the edge.

Still, Thursday represented progress for Shrader, who is beginning to show more consistency with his leg.

Buckner Returns, Young Defenders Continue Impressing

Another encouraging development came with the return of veteran defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to full 11-on-11 work.

Considering Buckner is working his way back from neck surgery, seeing him participate in team drills represents another important step in his recovery.

Several young defenders also continued making strong impressions.

Laiatu Latu consistently generated pressure throughout practice, while Colby Wooden and Justin Walley also turned in productive performances during team periods.

Rookie defensive ends Caden Curry and George Gumbs Jr. continued showing encouraging development against the Colts' developmental offense, while Austin Ajiake added another highlight by intercepting Riley Leonard during second-team work.

Meanwhile, cornerback Jaylon Jones remained with the developmental unit for a seventh consecutive practice.

That trend has become increasingly difficult to ignore and may suggest Jones is still searching for a role within Lou Anarumo's defensive system.

Richardson's Camp Remains Concerning

Anthony Richardson opened Thursday with the second-team offense, giving him another opportunity to bounce back after several inconsistent practices.

Unfortunately, the inconsistency continued.

Richardson targeted rookie receiver Deon Burks on a pass over the middle, a connection the two had found multiple times earlier in camp, but the ball glanced off Burks' hands and into the arms of cornerback Mekhi Blackmon for an interception.

The turnover was not entirely on Richardson, as Burks had an opportunity to secure the pass.

However, the larger picture remains the same.

Richardson's stretches under center continue to lack rhythm compared to Jones' offense.

While his supporting cast has been more limited, the operation itself has often appeared disjointed, and the consistency Indianapolis needs simply has not been there.

Leonard also threw an interception during his series, with Austin Ajiake making the play.

The backup quarterback competition remains close.

Unfortunately for the Colts, it is close for reasons that are not particularly encouraging.

Final Thoughts

If there is one clear takeaway from Thursday night's practice, it is that Daniel Jones continues to operate the Colts' offense at an exceptionally high level.

Yes, it is still training camp.

Yes, the regular season presents an entirely different challenge.

But there comes a point where consistent excellence deserves recognition regardless of the setting.

Jones continues to make accurate throws, extend plays with his legs, protect the football and consistently put the offense in position to succeed.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Taylor's extension removes one of the organization's biggest offseason distractions, Seth McGowan continues building momentum behind Taylor, and several young defenders are making increasingly compelling cases for larger roles.

The Colts still have plenty to sort out before Week 1 arrives.

But after another spirited night practice under the lights, one thing is becoming increasingly clear.

Daniel Jones has been the unquestioned story of Colts training camp.

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