Shaquille Leonard misses first practice

Indianapolis –And with that, the 2023 Colts training camp is drawing to a close.

It falls on Thursday the 13th^y and final practice at Grand Park, as the Colts concluded their two-day combined session with the Chicago Bears.

Here are some quick takeaways from Day 13 of Colts training camp:

• Second joint practice usually involves some extra chippening and that was certainly the case Thursday night. This final camp practice will be remembered for the many post-whistle-blow brawls (it looked like Shane Steichen had kicked a Pharoah Brown penalty out of practice for his involvement), another night of Colts offense stopped drive penalty shootouts and a few other injuries on top.

• We started with this overview because context is essential to Anthony Richardson’s description of the night. I only had Richardson 2 of 6 on the night, with 3 tackles called back for penalties, all in the center field illegal man section. With the Colts implementing some different-looking schemes this year with Richardson, he’ll influence the offensive line in how the unit blocks, especially in the option run/pass, and zone read elements. This was the problem Thursday night. One thing that’s going to be hard to measure this season is identifying a decline for a Colts receiver versus a pass being too fast to handle. It’s hard to argue that the adage “if you touch your hands, you catch it” is completely black and white when it comes to handling Richardson’s fastball. One of those plays happened on Thursday when Alec Pierce couldn’t catch a single off No. 5. The starting offense had trouble moving him in his only complete play period on Thursday. One thing to note on Richardson, his legs are sure to be used, and with good reason, in the red zone. The balance in using that will be something to watch. Richardson was fumbling a scramble on Thursday.

• Defensively, the Colts bounced back from a 7-on-7 session against Justin Fields (when Fields went 8 out of 8 In the red zone), to prevent the Bears from driving down the field in their only 11-on-11 full field period. It was a pass by Nick Cross that fell into the arms of EJ Speed ​​for an interception to prevent the Bears from starting offense. Indy’s defensive line called out a few more moments in pressing Fields as well.

• In 13 camps, Anthony Richardson was 76 of 122 (62.2%). These are unofficial numbers.

• Shin Station wasn’t available to the media after Thursday’s practice, so there’s no update on whether the Generators will play Anthony Richardson, or any starters, Saturday night against the Bears. Chicago coach Matt Eberflus said Thursday that Justin Fields will not play in a preseason game on Saturday night. Will Steichen follow the same scenario with his starting QB?

• Thursday saw the first missed practice of 2023 training camp for Shaquille Leonard (Sean Steichen was unavailable post-practice, so there was no update on what’s wrong with him). This would have been a shocking statement to his response at the start of camp. So Leonard participated, and fully, in 12 of the 13 training sessions at camp. But he got messed up on Wednesday night, with the athletic training staff on two occasions, so his lack of practice on Thursday wasn’t the most shocking thing. Does that rule him out of the only pre-season game at home then Saturday? I suppose so.

• It was almost fitting that the Bears took their opening rep on a kick return for a touchdown on Ashton Dulin’s first practice on injured reserve. Dolin tore his anterior cruciate ligament Wednesday night is a remarkable loss. Is Dulin a Top 20 Colts Player? no. But he is a man who could have been on this list of 53 men (for 5^y respectively) and one that helps this staffer sleep easier at night knowing he’s a reliable deep piece on offense, and an elite-level special team. In the event of an attack, this hit unlocks a spot on the recipient’s player list. Michael Bateman Jr. Alec Pearce, Josh Downs, and Isaya McKenzie are the four receiver locks of my mind. How about 5^y WR? Is there room for 6^y WR, if you’re keeping tighter ends, given the depth in that room? Also, the loss of Dulin puts more of an emphasis on Pittman Jr. as the lead. And Pierce to stay healthy. Dulin may have been the “backup” to these guys, having a physical make-up closer to them than the likes of Downs or McKenzie, who are smaller options/hole. Then on special teams, Dulin’s loss hurts a new-look special teams raft with first-time NFL head coach Brian Mason replacing Bubba Ventrone, and Rigoberto Sanchez returning from a torn Achilles. With the Colts about a week and a half away until the roster cut, this is the first confirmed 53 man on the roster to suffer a season-ending injury, so a roster spot opened up (in my mind) with this. To make room for Dulin heading to the injured reserve, the Colts brought back former Butler University Tyler Adams, who had spent roster time earlier this year.

• What will I be watching on Saturday night inside the Lucas Oil Stadium? Jim Irsay’s annual TV booth appearance. Irsay usually appears with the home television broadcast crew during the second half of the final pre-season game. Well, isn’t that Saturday night? Looks like Irsay will be joining Greg Rakestraw and Rick Venturi in the TV booth on Saturday through the 3rd^{Research and development} Quarter ponies and bears. I’m looking for the next somewhat notable Jonathan Taylor update (who was, again, not in Colts coaching) to come from this look. Once again, with Thursday’s back and forth, it’s now official that Taylor was the only Colts player to miss every training camp workout in 2023.

• If the Colts were to play their nickel pack tomorrow (personal assemblage teams often use about 70 percent of the time in a game), they would have two undrafted linebackers heading into second seasons. Daryl Baker Jr. (never played defensive tackle in the NFL) will be on one side with Dulles Flowers (made his NFL debut on defense last December) on the other side, then Kenny Moore in the slot. He’s a completely inexperienced outside corner duo, but a couple of guys have a strong camp. The Colts easily have one of the youngest minor leagues in the entire NFL.

• Biggest worry about the ponies getting out of Grand Park? Offensive line health/depth. Gardner Minshaw was under siege Thursday night.

• The kick return order Thursday night was as follows: CB-Dallis Flowers, WR-Isaiah McKenzie, WR-Josh Downs

• Here’s what the starting offense looked like on Thursday: QB-Anthony Richardson, RB-Deon Jackson, and WR-Michael Pittman Jr. and TE-Will Mallory, TE-Pharoah Brown, TE-Kylen Granson, LT-Bernhard Raimann, LG-Quenton Nelson, C Danny Pinter, RJ Arlington Hambright, RT Braden Smith.

• Here’s how the starting defense looked Thursday: DE-Samson Ebukam, DT-Grover Stewart, DT-Taven Bryant, DE-Kwity Paye, LB-Zaire Franklin, LB-Grant Stuard, LB-EJ Speed, CB-Dallis Flowers, CB Daryl Baker Jr., S Julian Blackmon, S Rodney Thomas II.

• Men who excelled in Thursday’s practice: S-Nick Cross, DE-Kwity Paye, WR-Isaiah McKenzie, S-Henry Black

Injury report: It appears the following players were not involved in Thursday’s practice: RB Zack Moss (arm), TE Jelani Woods (hamstring), TE Mo Ally Cox (ankle), C Ryan Kelly (foot), TE Drew. Ogletree (shoulder), DE-Genard Avery (unknown) RG-Will Fries (unknown), WR-Mike Strachan (left early), TE-Ricky-Jean Seals (right ankle), DE-Samson Ebukam (his helmet slammed in frustration after injuring what appeared to be his lower right leg, but he got back to work). The following players remain on the PUP or Non-Football Injury List: RB-Jonathan Taylor (Ankle).

Colts training camp schedule 2023

-8/19 Preliminary Game #2 at Lucas Oil Stadium: vs. Bears at 7:00 p.m.