Indianapolis Colts OTAs
Source: Justin Casterline / Getty
INDIANAPOLIS – It was yet another extremely newsy Colts offseason program.
With the conclusion to their 3-day minicamp, the Colts will now head for summer vacation before reconvening on July 22nd for training camp report day at Grand Park.
Here are 10 takeaways from the Colts offseason program.
1. Major Anthony Richardson Setback
Jacksonville Jaguars v Indianapolis Colts Source:Getty
Let’s say the Colts are right, and Anthony Richardson doesn’t need surgery and his return happens relatively early in training camp.
That doesn’t sound too bad, right?
But that’s not the full story with Richardson.
This news impacts Richardson even more because reps are so, so, so valuable to his development, proving that he can be more consistent and ingraining new throwing fundamentals into his body.
Instead of splitting reps across 9 team practices this spring, Richardson’s right shoulder setback meant Daniel Jones took the full starting reps in 7 of those practices.
That is crippling for a player like Richardson who is in a dire situation for meaningful reps, for multiple reasons.
2. New Decision Maker
NFL: OCT 30 Commanders at Colts Source:Getty
Sadly, the Colts had major ownership news this spring, following the May death of Owner Jim Irsay.
As expected, the franchise was prepared to pivot though, announcing the transition of ownership to Irsay’s 3 daughters, with Carlie Irsay-Gordon now serving as CEO and Principal Owner.
While Irsay-Gordon has been the main overseer of the business side of the building for more than a decade, this is the first time she will have final say on the football decisions.
And that matters a whole lot in the year 2025, given the uncertainty regarding the futures of Chris Ballard (signed through 2026) and Shane Steichen (signed through 2028).
It’s quite possible Irsay-Gordon will have some massive decisions to make in her first year atop the organization.
3. Daniel Jones Takes Early Lead
Indianapolis Colts OTAs Source:Getty
Perhaps Daniel Jones would have exited the spring with the head start on the quarterback competition, given the heavy emphasis on “consistency” being the separator in this QB battle.
But the Anthony Richardson news means Jones is definitely QB1 leaving the spring, and is expected to be that to start training camp.
Jones got the full starting reps in 7 of the team’s 9 offense/defense practices this spring.
The coaching staff was pleased with the steadiness Jones showed.
Availability obviously matters, but it appears Jones helped his cause with his own play, too.
4. Tyler Warren Seems To Fit
NFL: JUN 05 Indianapolis Colts OTA Source:Getty
There’s a fluidity to the movement of No. 84 with those locks coming out of the helmet.
In multiple spring viewings of the Colts, Warren making plays in the open field, and at the second level, was seen.
Guaranteeing anything for an NFL rookie is premature, but Warren acclimated just fine in the spring.
The Colts made a big splash at No. 14 overall in trying to inject playmaking to the tight end position. Warren’s early introduction to the NFL brought some nice moments in that area on the practice field.
5. Linebacker Health
Indianapolis Colts v New York Jets Source:Getty
While installing Lou Anarumo’s new defense, the Colts did so without their two starting linebackers (Zaire Franklin-ankle surgery; Jaylon Carlies-shoulder surgery).
That was unfortunate for the key communicators of the Colts defense.
Franklin’s May surgery could linger into the start of training camp, so that’ll something to keep an eye on.
Despite the injuries, the Colts stayed away from making any notable free agent signing at linebacker.
The health of Franklin and Carlies will be key given the lack of proven depth behind those two.
6. Yet To Fully See Charvarius Ward
Dallas Cowboys v San Francisco 49ers Source:Getty
One of the biggest moves of the Chris Ballard era came back in March with the amped up financial pitch to Charvarius Ward.
It worked with the Colts believing they have found a true No. 1 outside cornerback, still in his prime.
With Ward spending some time away from the Colts this spring, we did not see him involved in team reps until the final week of the team’s offseason program.
The Colts are very open to using Ward in a shadow role, if the opponent/personnel calls for it.
Such a wrinkle would be a new changeup from how the Colts have deployed their cornerbacks in recent years.
7. Big Legged Kicking Battle
NFL: SEP 08 Texans at Colts Source:Getty
The Colts created some news at the start of their offseason program by cutting veteran kicker Matt Gay.
In return, they explained what they are looking for in their future at kicker.
They are betting on the big-legged young kickers, hoping a strong mental evaluation, will lead to tapped into potential.
Spencer Shrader is the heavy favorite as the Colts are bullish on what he can grow into. Undrafted free agent Maddux Trujillo is the other kicker in competition, and he did have a nice spring (like Shrader) when kicking in front of the media.
8. Rookie Stands Out
COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 26 Maryland at Minnesota Source:Getty
It’s not often you hear Shane Steichen go out of his way to single out a player.
But the Colts head coach did that in June with rookie cornerback Justin Walley.
The Colts have been struck by the seemingly daily playmaking from the 5-10 cornerback.
It remains to be seen how exactly Walley will fit into 2025 playing time, but he clearly impressed why the Colts saw some missed time from Charvarius Ward, Jaylon Jones, JuJu Brents.
9. New-Look Offensive Line Taking Shape
Indianapolis Colts v New England Patriots Source:Getty
Exiting the spring, I would say you can write 3 Colts starting offensive line spots in sharpie (LT-Bernhard Raimann, LG-Quenton Nelson, RT-Braden Smith), 1 in pen (RG-Matt Goncalves) and 1 up in the air (C-Tanor Bortolini vs. C-Danny Pinter).
That means a position battle will be there at center between Bortolini and Pinter. We saw the two largely split reps in the spring, with Bortolini (4th round pick in 2024) the man getting the initial starting reps.
Goncalves is the expected guy at right guard.
The Colts continued to operate all spring long without making another outside of the building move at guard, whether that came from the draft or the veteran free agent market.
10. Early Training Camp Start
NFL: JUL 27 Colts Training Camp Source:Getty
Summer break will last a little more than a month for the Colts, with training camp report day July 22nd at Grand Park.
That’s an earlier start time to camp for the Colts, due to the fact that there first preseason game is Thursday, August 7th.
The Colts will once again hold a joint practice at Grand Park. If the Colts follow a pervious year’s cadence, that will likely be around August 14th with the Packers in town for a preseason game on Saturday, August 16th.
An earlier start date to camp could have some implications for the injury returns of quarterback Anthony Richardson (shoulder) and defensive quarterback Zaire Franklin (ankle).