WESTFIELD — At the Indianapolis Colts’ training camp held at Grand Park Sports Campus on Sunday afternoon, the receivers dominated the cornerbacks, showcasing a commanding performance during the third practice of the session.
Following a challenging encounter with the starting defense the previous day, the Colts’ offense came alive with a series of explosive plays during the 11-on-11 drills. Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, demonstrating his agility and quick decision-making, managed to evade rookie pass rusher Laiatu Latu, who had swiftly maneuvered past left tackle Bernhard Raimann. Richardson, leveraging his dual-threat capability, sprinted to his left beyond the first down markers and found receiver Alec Pierce along the sideline for another crucial first down.
Richardson continued to impress during the first-team reps, completing a significant connection with receiver Josh Downs. Downs, who had been instrumental in the previous drills, made a remarkable play by racing across the middle for a substantial gain. His performance did not wane; he further demonstrated his skills by burning his defender on a corner route, almost securing a touchdown on the initial rep of the next team session. The second-year slot receiver has refined his game to the extent that he no longer premeditates his route; instead, he adeptly reads the defense’s coverage and adjusts accordingly. Richardson’s precision was evident as he connected with Downs three times against the starting secondary, finishing 10-for-14 (71%) during the team drills.
During the 1-on-1 drills, the Colts receivers exhibited their prowess against the cornerbacks, securing nine catches downfield out of the first ten reps. Cornerback Kenny Moore II struggled to contain Downs during these drills, highlighting the latter’s explosive performance. Colts head coach Shane Steichen commented on Downs’ impressive development, noting that while he was already “explosive Year One,” he has significantly elevated his game this offseason.
Among the highlights of the day was rookie receiver Adonai Mitchell’s remarkable catch. During the 1-on-1 drills, Mitchell made an eye-catching reception against cornerback Dallis Flowers. Quarterback Richardson threw a deep pass, approximately 40 yards down the sideline, and Mitchell managed to catch it at the 5-yard line despite losing his helmet in the process. The crowd erupted in cheers, marking it as the first major highlight of the training camp.
Mitchell continued to shine during the second-team offense’s drills, where he exhibited exceptional concentration by juggling a catch in heavy traffic for a 20-yard gain on a pass thrown by backup quarterback Joe Flacco. The second-round draft pick, who had seen some first-team reps in the first week of camp, delivered his most impressive performance on Sunday.
In other training camp news, defensive end Samson Ebukam had to be carted off the field due to a calf injury, raising concerns about his availability moving forward. Additionally, tensions flared during the practice when receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and cornerback Jaylon Jones got into a physical altercation. The scuffle, which lasted about 30 seconds, ensued after Jones was penalized for defensive holding, leading Pittman to retaliate with additional shoving on the sidelines.
The day also saw Colts owner Jim Irsay make his first public appearance at the camp. A swarm of local reporters and camera operators gathered around a golf cart that made a brief stop between the adjacent practice fields, where Irsay stayed in his vehicle to address the media.
Looking ahead, the next week of practice sessions is anticipated to be even more intense. The Colts are scheduled to hold their first practice in full pads on Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m., promising a further escalation in physicality and competitive intensity.
