10 Thoughts After Colts' First Week of Training Camp

WESTFIELD, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts have put a week of practice in the books at training camp, which included four practices.

The first three were an hour long, but Saturday's session ran an hour and a half and was moved to the indoor facility at Grand Park Sports Campus due to inclement weather.

While there is still much to learn about this team, especially beginning Monday when the pads go on for the first time, here are some main takeaways thus far.

The workload split in the Colts' battle between Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson Sr for the QB2 role had been relatively even throughout the first few days of camp, but there was a significant discrepancy in usage on Saturday. Leonard was given two extra sessions with the second-team offense, going 8-of-15 passing on the day, to Richardson's 1-of-3. Head coach Shane Steichen has reiterated that the two players have been evenly rotating the workload day after day, but if things don't even out on Monday when the team returns to the field, it could signal how the team views its quarterback situation.

In theory, the Colts would like a running back to step up behind Jonathan Taylor and prove capable of sharing his workload so he doesn't have to be used to the extent he is annually. However, that candidate hasn't really popped yet. DJ Giddens has been running the ball well but has struggled as a pass-catcher. Seth McGowan has also been running well, but there are questions about how he can be used outside of short-yardage situations. It's going to take more than running well on early downs to share the backfield with Taylor.

Top receiver Alec Pierce has yet to make his training camp debut while he recovers from March ankle surgery, which has given extra reps to those vying for the team's third receiver role next to Pierce and Josh Downs. Ashton Dulin and Laquon Treadwell have been the primary beneficiaries of this playing time boost, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine has also taken advantage, primarily with the second-team offense. While Westbrook-Ikhine has stood out the most, what's evident is that when you take Pierce away and Downs is forced to go against lengthier outside corners like Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward Sr., the Colts could use another receiver with either size and/or route-running savvy or the ability to consistently separate. There are still some options on the free agent market, such as Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, and Brandin Cooks, but the options will dwindle the longer the Colts wait.

After being made the 14th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Warren was as good as advertised for the Colts as a rookie, making the Pro Bowl and finishing first on the team in targets (112) and second in receptions (76) and receiving yards (817). With an assumed second-year jump and Michael Pittman Jr. no longer around to take many of the team's pass targets, expect Warren to be even more effective in Year 2. So far in camp, he's been frequently targeted by quarterback Daniel Jones, and Jones' return to the lineup means the Colts' offense can become versatile again, which helps a fellow versatile player like Warren exploit matchups during the season.

There are some battles on the offensive line this offseason that have brought new or unexpected players into the fray. Jalen Travis' move into the starting lineup and Danny Pinter's exit to the Baltimore Ravens have opened up multiple opportunities with the second-team line. Dalton Tucker has been the Colts' third guard for a couple of years now but is competing to replace Pinter as the backup center. He's had issues with high snaps even since the spring, which has helped the Colts get a better look at Jimmy Morrissey and Josh Kreutz. Geno VanDeMark has also been a fixture in the second-team line, rotating at guard with Jalen Farmer.

The Colts will don their pads on Monday, which helps give more definition to battles on the offensive and defensive lines. Defensively, Jaylahn Tuimoloau is attempting to establish himself as the starter at edge opposite Laiatu Latu, but has veteran Arden Key in the way. Key has seen far more snaps with the first-team defense, but Tuimoloau has had several would-be sacks during camp and is assumed to be a more physical player, which could begin to pop with pads on. The Colts also have several edge defenders on the roster, with a pecking order needing to be established. Where do guys like Micheal Clemons, Caden Curry, and George Gumbs Jr. fall? Likewise, the Colts need to see if someone will step up behind Grover Stewart and grab the backup one-tech role, which is between Jerry Tillery, Derrick Nnadi, Tim Smith, and Cam Ball.

The Colts have given several linebackers reps with the first-team defense, with the main three being CJ Allen, Bryce Boettcher, and Akeem Davis-Gaither. Allen and Davis-Gaither have both missed some time during camp with injuries/illness, so the main constant at linebacker with the first-team defense has been Boettcher. He's had to rotate out occasionally, but even in the spring during minicamp, he has arguably seen the most reps with the top group. We know Allen is the team's starting MIKE, and the intention is for him to call the defense, so will the veteran Davis-Gaither, or the rookie Boettcher, be joining Allen in the starting lineup at WILL? Linebackers coach James Bettcher and general manager Chris Ballard have both said they would be comfortable starting two rookies at linebacker, so it's up to Davis-Gaither to establish himself as the better option, or else Boettcher would likely get the nod.

The vision when the Colts traded for Sauce Gardner was to have two lockdown corners on the boundary in him and Charvarius Ward Sr.. They also had Kenny Moore II in the slot at the time, who's been regarded as one of the best at his position for several years. Gardner and Ward are back healthy, and second-year standout Justin Walley has replaced Moore in the slot, and all three have made their mark during camp. Gardner has broken up several passes and has smothered receivers who lack his size or length, while Ward hasn't been tested much yet but has been able to break up some passes. Walley has also been incredibly active at the catch point, breaking up targets and being a pest for receivers. Walley vs. Downs has been one of the most entertaining matchups of camp. If these three can stay healthy throughout the season (they played a combined nine full games for the Colts last year), it will go a long way toward coordinator Lou Anarumo operating the defense like he wants to.

Anarumo was recently asked about Hunter Wohler seeing the bulk of the reps at first-team strong safety, and Anarumo said there was nothing to read into it, but it's noticeably continued since then. Wohler did not fully participate in team drills on Saturday while being looked at by a trainer, so rookie A.J. Haulcy got the initial run with the first-team defense, but Jonathan Owens has also gotten work there. When healthy and available, Wohler has seen the lion's share of the work, with Haulcy and Owens occasionally rolling in. The common outside thought after minicamp in June was that Haulcy would likely win the job, at least eventually, but the workload will need to shift for that train of thought to come back around.

The Colts have a kicking competition brewing between Blake Grupe and Spencer Shrader, and there does seem to be a leader so far. The media has seen kickers work twice since the spring, and Grupe is a combined 11-of-11 on field goals in those sessions, compared to Shrader going 8-of-11. Special teams coordinator Brian Mason said in May that who wins will ultimately come down to accuracy, the quality of the kicks being made, and a player's upside and leg talent.