2025 Indianapolis Colts Training Camp Journal: Richardson Rebounds, QBs Impress Despite Pass Rush

Westfield, IN — The weather was perfect for the Colts’ final practice before they take a trip to Baltimore for the week. The Colts and Ravens have a joint practice scheduled for Tuesday, two days before both teams kick off the preseason slate against one another.

Not only did Anthony Richardson rebound in a big way from his previous practice on Saturday, but all three quarterbacks had strong showings despite an onslaught of pressure from the pass rush.

QB Competition

Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones had much cleaner showings today than yesterday, especially Richardson. As mentioned, the previous day’s script of heavy dropback red zone play is arguably the most difficult to simulate, given that most outings in a game will not feature a fraction of the run these quarterbacks had from the opponent’s 20-yard line and in. Regardless, it was an uninspiring showing that needed redemption, and today provided just that.

First and foremost, Anthony Richardson was undeniably more accurate today. He was clearly in a rhythm, and his strong day through the air began in his first team period of the day, an 11-on-11 period with the second unit from the high red zone (opponent’s 25-30-yard line and in). After a plethora of running back carries, Richardson hit one of his first three pass attempts: a slant to Laquon Treadwell in stride, an angle route to UDFA RB Ulyesses Bentley IV for the score, and then a play-action find to Jelani Woods while rolling to his left. Richardson’s strong start tapered off a bit as he was sacked by Laiatu Latu, and then an off-target throw to AD Mitchell fell just short of being complete. Richardson rebounded from this team period as he went 3-3 (+ a forced DPI) in the following 7-on-7 session with the second unit. Arguably his best throw of the day kicked off this string of completions as he found Anthony Goul in stride on a crosser for around 25 yards. He then hit AD Mitchell on a quick out before evading the sack/would-be sack turned into a scrambling find to Laquon Treadwell short. Richardson followed up this session by throwing an equally impressive crosser to Alec Pierce in the middle of the field during his first 11-on-11 run with the starters. He was sacked by Kwity Paye during this period, but found additional success throwing to tight ends Tyler Warren (a short throw in traffic) and Mo Alie-Cox (a TE screen for 30 yards up the left sideline). His final period, an 11-on-11 2-minute drill with the starters, ended up netting points. After going 2-4 throwing to Josh Downs on his first four attempts (one of which was a deliberate incompletion to save clock), Richardson found Tyler Goodson and Ashton Dulin on similar quick-hitters to set up kicker Spencer Shrader for the potential game-winning/tying 55-yard field goal attempt, which he nailed. Overall, Richardson’s accuracy between yesterday (albeit red zone heavy) and today was a night and day difference.

Daniel Jones’ first session, with the starters, featured an abundance of short-game connections — six for six on passes at or beneath five yards depth of target. His two throws past that imaginary five-yard marker fell incomplete: an off-target strike to Alec Pierce in the back of the end zone and a high ball to Tyler Warren that fell from his fingertips. His next team period, a 7-on-7 session with the starters, saw a 2-4 output through the air. Jones’ two completions in this period were an immediate hitch to Tyler Warren and a motioned slant to Josh Downs. Jones was very efficient today, though it should be noted that the vast majority of his completions were short, quick-hitting routes. The only two completions in the team that Jones had past 5-10 yards depth came in the final team period of the day, a 2-minute drill with the backups, where he connected with second-year WR Anthony Gould on two separate big-time gains: dropped one into a bucket over the middle of the field with the second being a 10-yard in-breaker which opened up green grass for Gould to gain additional yards after-the-catch. Jones and Gould’s chemistry helped set up the kicker(s) for a high-leverage 33-yard chip shot, both of which Spencer Shrader and UDFA Maddux Trujillo connected on.

Pass Rush Suffocates Pass Protection

The pass rush was apparent today, specifically from the first and second units. Laiatu Latu and Kwity Paye met each other in the backfield for a combined sack on two separate occasions, once on Anthony Richardson and the other on Daniel Jones. Veteran EDGE Samson Ebukam had his first big moment of camp thus far as he got the solo sack on Daniel Jones, while veteran DTs DeForest Buckner and Neville Gallimore combined for one. Gallimore also got to Jones during his run with the second unit(s), meeting Richardson in the backfield. Safety Camryn Bynum got to Richardson as well at one point, which was one of the first times we hadn’t seen Bynum as the lone outfielder back deep.

For context, as it pertains to sacks (would-be or not) in training camp practices, it’s incredibly difficult to not only watch every level of the field from pre-snap to whistle, but to objectively judge what is or what wouldn’t be a sack. As is the case at any level, practice amongst teammates explicitly condemns the mere idea of laying a finger on the quarterback, but is grounds for losing a job at the professional level.

With that being said, a ‘would-be sack’ is inherently subjective when it comes to observation, so a majority of these reported sacks are oftentimes pressures that the QB could potentially evade. Since we don’t have that simulation play out in front of us, accurately depicting a pass rush’s performance in training camp is near impossible, that is, if it’s not obvious. However, today, regardless of how many sacks this group may or may not have had in a real game, the undeniable truth is that they were in the backfield plenty. Truly the best pass rush day we’ve seen in camp thus far, even if that means it was just countless pressures in-game.

Miscellaneous

• Significant Injury: FA signee RB Salvon Ahmed was hip-drop tackled by UDFA S Trey Washington and subsequently stretchered off the field and immediately sent to the hospital. It was a scary moment, and one that Washington shouldn’t be condemned for. He’s a young player trying to make a livelihood out of the game he loves, and in a live team period (tackling to ground), he let his competitive edge outfactor his logic. GM Chris Ballard immediately came over to console Washington, who was noticeably shaken up, while the rest of the team was led in prayer by S Camryn Bynum.
• Rookie QB Riley Leonard was on fire today in 11-on-11 play. Going 7-7 through the air on a drive simulation and ending with a TD pass, Leonard was simply locked in. He connected with TE Sean McKeon on numerous occasions and eventually found WR Landon Parker for the score on said drive. His strong day continued in other periods, where the only incompletion of his this morning came on a dropped pass from McKeon that was aptly broken up. Leonard also found WR Anthony Gould on a perfect fade ball up the right sideline for about 25 yards in his second session.
• Injury Report: Charvarius Ward (leg tightness), Michael Pittman Jr. (groin), Jaylon Jones (hamstring), JuJu Brents (hamstring), Jaylon Carlies (undisclosed) all missed Sunday’s practice.
• Veteran and Team Captain LB Zaire Franklin ramped up his return today. After practicing for the first time all summer on Saturday (just individual work), Franklin added some 7-on-7 run to his regimen today and was noticeably excited to be back on the field.
• AD Mitchell’s strong camp since the pads have come on continued today. He said yesterday during his media availability, “I knew if somebody leave me one-on-one on an island, somebody gonna regret it. And it ain’t gonna be me.” and that played out today during a deep yet slightly underthrown ball that he climbed the ladder for on a recovering UDFA CB Johnathan Edwards.