The Indianapolis Colts are set to begin training camp in just a few days as the team reports Tuesday with the first practice set for Wednesday, July 26, at the Grand Park Sports Complex in Westfield.
Ushering in a new era under head coach Shane Steichen and rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson, the Colts have pretty low expectations of playoff hopes from an outside perspective.
Still, there are plenty of intriguing storylines to keep up with throughout training camp and the preseason.
Here’s a look at the 10 biggest storylines surrounding the Colts as they set to begin training camp this week:
1
The QB battle
Without a doubt the biggest storyline for the Colts this season, all eyes will be on rookie Anthony Richardson and his progress since being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He split reps with veteran Gardner Minshew during the spring, and that’s likely to continue at camp. But he’ll also have the chance to prove he’s worthy of the starting spot for Week 1.
2
Jonathan Taylor's health and contract
Entering his fourth season, Taylor is going into a crucial training camp. The former second-round pick is in the final year of his contract and is looking for a new deal. He’s also on the mend from offseason ankle surgery, though owner Jim Irsay said this month that he’s “healed up,” which is positive news. Whether he gets a new deal before camp remains to be seen, but Taylor will once again be a key component of the offense.
3
Will a veteran WR emerge?
There are likely four players with locked roster spots in the wide receiver room entering camp: Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Ashton Dulin and rookie Josh Downs. Meanwhile, Isaiah McKenzie has a solid shot at making the roster while other veterans like Breshad Perriman, Mike Strachan and Juwann Winfree will be looking to make a case.
4
A crowded TE room
This competition will be fun to watch. The Colts have roughly five or six tight ends all competing for roster spots. The favorites include Mo Alie-Cox, Jelani Woods and Kylen Granson. While Alie-Cox is likely to make the roster, it’s not absurd to think he could be traded before roster cuts. Meanwhile, second-year player Andrew Ogletree will be back from his torn ACL, rookie Will Mallory figures to be in the mix, and a pair of veterans in Pharoah Brown and Kaden Smith also will be looking to make a case.
5
More rookie showings?
We didn’t get to see much of the rookie class during the spring workouts outside of Anthony Richardson. Second-round cornerback Julius Brents missed OTAs and minicamp due to wrist surgery in March. Downs suffered a knee injury after a strong showing at rookie minicamp, and Mallory dealt with a foot injury he suffered during rookie minicamp. However, we should get a good view of the rookie class during training camp, which will give us a better idea of what the depth on the roster looks like.
6
Shaquille Leonard's status
The Maniac will continue to be a hot topic of conversation considering the unknown status of his timeline for return. Leonard missed the entire spring workouts but posted a video of him running through some agility drills in July. How much he’ll participate and what kind of player he will be when he returns is a mystery so hopefully we’ll get some answers at training camp.
7
Shane Steichen's impact
It’s always vital for new head coaches to get the team to buy-in to the leadership and mentality of the new regime, especially when this is the first time holding the role. Steichen seems to bring a level of intensity the Colts haven’t had for some time, and his commitment to finding players with elite work ethics should help shift a culture that desperately needed a reset.
8
Handling the cornerback room
In what will be the most wide-open position battle at camp, the cornerback position poses several questions. The Colts traded Stephon Gilmore this offseason, and they released Isaiah Rodgers Sr. after he was suspended by the league for gambling. Kenny Moore II is the only player with viable starting experience. The battle for the two boundary spots is wide open, though most believe second-round pick Julius Brents is a shoo-in for one of those starting roles. The other spot, and the depth pieces behind it, includes a massive battle between two rookies (Darius Rush and Jaylon Jones), two inexperienced veterans (Tony Brown and Darrell Baker Jr.) and a special teams ace who started one game during his rookie season (Dallis Flowers).
9
Is there enough depth on the offensive line?
The Colts admitted to the mistake of not bringing in enough depth for the offensive line in 2022, but they did little to make good on those admissions. There is little competition pushing left tackle Bernhard Raimann and right guard Will Fries. None of the three backup offensive tackles behind Raimann and Braden Smith have ever started a game in the NFL. Meanwhile, Danny Pinter projects to be the backup right guard after losing that starting role four games into the 2022 season, and the depth at center is a pretty big question mark as well.
10
Can Nick Cross step up?
Despite being just 21 years old, the second-year safety is at a bit of a crossroads already. An uber-athletic defender, Cross lost his starting role after two games into the 2022 season and spent the rest of the campaign on special teams, watching fellow rookie Rodney Thomas II emerge as a gem at free safety. Cross can still be a major player for the Colts defense, but he needs to show he can play fast without second-guessing his assignments.
