Colts receiving corps faces uncertainty as depth concerns linger during indoor practice

With the weather forcing the team to move Saturday’s training camp practice indoors, the Indianapolis Colts held a tight hour-long session at Droplight Grand Park Sports Campus focused primarily inside the red zone. 

Starting quarterback Daniel Jones showcased his ability to recognize a different mix of coverages and deliver strong throws in closed space. Jones noticed the defense sitting underneath Cover 2 and split the coverage with a dart to tight end Tyler Warren on a wheel route for a 20-yard touchdown.

Jones later added some nice touch to toss a dime toward the far pylon for receiver Josh Downs, who made a leaping grab over cornerback Justin Walley for a 10-yard touchdown catch. Downs came down hard to make the sensational catch and briefly left the field to jog off some tightness in his right hamstring, but he later returned for the final team period and caught a short hitch on his first play back on the field.

Jones was able to create plays while rolling out in space, too. Jones faked the play action, rolled right, released the throw while on the move and placed it just behind receiver Laquon Treadwell, who adjusted to the pass thrown near his hip and held on for a 10-yard touchdown in tight coverage. Jones finished the practice completing 7-of-14 passes, with a few incompletions on plays where he willingly decided it was best to throw the ball away rather than force a pass. The lone mistake nearly resulted in a turnover when rookie linebacker Bryce Boettcher got a hand on one of Jones’ throws for what could have been a error near the goal line. Jones stationoed himself in the pocket and allowed the plays to develop, evidenced best on his final throw that was caught by Ashton Dulin in the end zone.

The second-string quarterback competition kept reps split between Anthony Richardson Sr. and Riley Leonard as both passers had just five completions during the short practice. Richardson delivered a frozen rope on a comeback route to tight end Will Mallory toward the far pylon for a 10-yard touchdown, then he later connected with receiver Raylen Sharpe on a slant and a corner route in the final team drill. Leonard also found the end zone playing on a short field, connecting with Sharpe on a quick out and rookie Deion Burks on a drag route.

The Colts’ wide receiver situation remains an volatile storyline with the season opener just four weeks away. Receiver Alec Pierce, who signed a four-year $114 million deal in March, has missed all 10 training camp practices while recovering from offseason ankle surgery, which leaves the Colts with limited depth outside the numbers. There are three receivers vying for the open WR3 spot right now, including Nick Westbrook-Ikhene, along with Dulin and Treadwell. Indy will choose to keep a handful of weapons, but with only one football, even the WR3 will have to make the most of any opportunities that present themselves. The Colts deploy plenty of 12 personnel with two tight end sets, so whoever emerges as the starter will still be limited to their role in the offense.

There were also over a dozen receivers who participated Saturday, including three free agents who were brought in for workouts, including Tre’Quan Smith, Josh Reynolds and Equanimeous St. Brown. Smith, a 2018 third-round pick, spent his first five seasons with the New Orleans Saints, but was limited to just 10 snaps with the Denver Broncos in 2023 and has not played since. Reynolds is still looking for a roster spot entering his tenth NFL season, but has become a journeyman while playing for five different organizations over the past five years. St. Brown was a 2018 sixth-round pick, but has appeared in only two games over the last two seasons, having last played for the Saints in 2024.

The Colts have to navigate injuries on both sides of the ball. First-round draft pick C.J. Allen missed his fifth consecutive practice with a hamstring injury, which leaves even more doubt if he will be ready for Week 1. Akeem Davis-Gaither and Jaylon Carlies rotated with the starting linebackers Saturday as the depth chart continued to fill itself out. Cornerback Charvarius Ward was also out, which allowed Cam Taylor-Britt to get most of the reps with the starters. Taylor-Britt was recently suspended for one game after violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy, which stems from a legal case in Ohio where he pleaded guilty to reckless operation and driving without a license. 

The Colts will host three more practices at Grand Park, with Sunday’s practice scheduled for 4 p.m. Next week, the Colts host a pair of two-hour joint practices with the Atlanta Falcons to seal the final training camp in Westfield.