The drop-off in quarterback play from Daniel Jones to his backups was on full display Friday night during the Indianapolis Colts' annual training camp night practice.
WESTFIELD, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts held their annual training camp night practice on Friday at Grand Park Sports Complex. The evening ended with fireworks, but there were plenty on the field throughout the night as well.
Here's how practice No. 7, which was loaded with 11-on-11 drills, went down.
TEAM
— After practice, head coach Shane Steichen said the offense and defense were competing throughout practice to win the entire night based on the scoring system the coaches set, with the defense ultimately winning the entire practice.
— Players who missed Thursday's practice were: linebacker CJ Allen (hamstring), safety Hunter Wohler (hamstring), running back DJ Giddens (hamstring), wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (hamstring), defensive tackle Tim Smith, and wide receiver Eli Pancol.
— Cornerback Sauce Gardner (illness), linebacker Jaylon Carlies (personal), and defensive tackle Derrick Nnadi (toe) returned after missing the most recent practice. Nnadi had missed the last three practices, while the others missed just one.
— Safety A.J. Haulcy, wide receiver Deion Burks, and center Tanor Bortolini all individually left briefly for medical attention but returned to the field.
— On Thursday, the Colts signed running back Jonathan Taylor to a two-year contract extension, keeping him under contract through 2028. The Colts also placed tight end Sean McKeon (shoulder) on the Injured Reserve list and signed free agent tight end Pharaoh Brown.
OFFENSE
— The primary first-team offense was: QB Daniel Jones, RB Jonathan Taylor, WR Ashton Dulin, WR Josh Downs, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, TE Tyler Warren, TE Mo Alie-Cox, LT Bernhard Raimann, LG Quenton Nelson, C Tanor Bortolini, RG Matt Goncalves, and RT Jalen Travis.
— The second-team offensive line was: LT Blake Freeland, LG Josh Sills, C Dalton Tucker/Jimmy Morrissey, RG Jalen Farmer, and RT Luke Tenuta.
— Quarterback Daniel Jones was 21-of-27 passing (77.8%), with drops by tight end Mo Alie-Cox and wide receiver Ashton Dulin, and completions to Dulin (5), receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (5), receiver Josh Downs (2), running back Seth McGowan (2), Taylor (2), tight end Tyler Warren (2), Alie-Cox, and running back Ulysses Bentley IV. Jones had touchdown throws to Westbrook-Ikhine, Bentley, and Dulin. His throw to Bentley was down the left side for roughly 20-plus yards, and the throw to Dulin was a precise throw into the back of the end zone, where Dulin had to toe-tap in front of the back boundary. Jones was surgical throughout the evening, throwing with anticipation and accuracy. He even took off for scrambles a few times, which appeared to be at a relatively fast pace.
— Quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. had an abysmal performance in three series with the second-team offense, going 4-of-12 passing (33.3%), with completions to receiver Coleman Owen (2), tight end Drew Ogletree, and Gould. Richardson dropped yet another snap (he's had several in camp), this time from under center, and was consistently high on his throws. This manifested in an interception over the middle of the field as he targeted Burks, Burks jumped for it and knocked the ball in the air, and it was snatched by cornerback Mekhi Blackmon for the pick. In the final session of practice in a two-minute drill, Richardson didn't complete a pass and took multiple sacks, with the day ending on another Blackmon pass breakup.
— Quarterback Riley Leonard also had three series with the second-team offense, going 9-of-13 passing (69.2%), with completions to Owen (3), McGowan (3), Bentley (2), and Burks. Leonard seemed apprehensive to test things downfield, even if they appeared to be open. His biggest highlight, though, was a short pass to Bentley, who reversed field and juked linebacker Austin Ajiake for what would be a touchdown catch-and-run of about 40 yards.
— After Taylor's recent extension, expect to continue seeing screen passes to him, with guard Quenton Nelson leading the blocking as we saw on Friday night. Taylor slipped out to the left side and picked up a huge gain, with Nelson paving the way.
DEFENSE
— The primary first-team defense was: DE Laiatu Latu, DT (3T) Colby Wooden/Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT (1T) Grover Stewart, DE Arden Key, LB Bryce Boettcher, LB Austin Ajiake, CB Sauce Gardner, CB Charvarius Ward Sr., SCB Justin Walley, FS Cam Bynum, and SS A.J. Haulcy.
— First-team pass rushers had some productive reps, with tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore blasting up the middle for a would-be sack, linebacker Bryce Boettcher coming through on a blitz, and edge Laiatu Latu having a key pass breakup while dropping into coverage against receiver Anthony Gould. Adebawore and Boettcher combined for three more sacks against Richardson while running with the second-team defense as well.
— Top corners Gardner and Charvarius Ward Sr. made their presence felt early, with pass breakups of Dulin and Gould, respectively.
— Safety Johnathan Owens also blitzed Richardson for a sack in the second half of practice. Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has routinely dialed up successful defensive back blitzes throughout the summer.
— Safety Trey Washington had a pair of pass breakups, with one coming for the second-team defense in front of the goal line, as Richardson targeted tight end Will Mallory. The other was against Ogletree.
— Defensive linemen Jaylahn Tuimoloau and Micheal Clemons converged on McGowan in the backfield on the right side for a tackle for loss. The pair would also combine for three sacks for the second-team defense against Leonard.
— Ajiake made some truly impressive plays, slicing in front of Burks' in-breaking route to intercept Leonard, while also laying a big hit on a running back near the line of scrimmage.
SPECIAL TEAMS
— Both Blake Grupe and Spencer Shrader kicked extensively on Friday night, with Grupe going 8-of-10 and Shrader going 7-of-10. Grupe had makes from 32, 33, 34, 39, 41, 46, 59, and 57 yards, and misses from 53 and 61 yards. Shrader had makes from 32, 33, 34, 39, 46, 49, and 57 yards, and misses from 41, 53, and 61 yards. Since the spring, in practices that the media has watched, Grupe is now 25-of-27 (92.6%), and Shrader is 19-of-27 (70.4%).
— The kickoff return rotation was as follows: McGowan (Bentley as lead blocker), Gould (Owen as lead blocker), and Sahmir Hagans (Raylen Sharpe as lead blocker).
— The punt team personal protectors were Owens and Daniel Scott. The gunner combinations were Johnathan Edwards/Jaylon Jones, Blackmon/Cam Taylor-Britt, Burks/Westbrook-Ikhine, Gould/Ben Nikkel, E.J. Horton Jr./Rob Carter Jr., and Austin Brown/Mekhi Rodgers. Owen returned every punt, as the plays were more of an install than they were live reps.
DEVELOPMENTAL
— Quarterback Easton Stick went 5-of-8 passing (62.5%) in two series with the developmental team, with completions to running back Anderson Castle (2), running back Roydell Williams, receiver Liam Clifford, and Hagans.
— Rookie edge rushers Caden Curry and George Gumbs Jr. each had a sack against Stick, and Carter had a pass breakup. Curry routinely lined up on the edge and inside a three-technique.


