Colts Training Camp Journal, Day 12: Josh Downs Shines vs. Bears

Wednesday was the first of two days of joint practices between the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, and rookie wide receiver Josh Downs was a stud for the hosts.

The Indianapolis Colts hosted their first of two joint practices against the Chicago Bears on Wednesday evening, and it was quite a productive day ahead of the teams' matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday.

I was in attendance and now provide my notes from the sidelines.

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TEAM

— The following players missed practice: wide receiver Breshad Perriman (undisclosed), wide receiver Vyncint Smith (undisclosed), running back Zack Moss (arm), linebacker Segun Olubi (head), center Ryan Kelly (foot), tight end Jelani Woods (hamstring), tight end Mo Alie-Cox (ankle), tight end Drew Ogletree (shoulder), defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (foot). Running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is the last player remaining on the PUP list but is also away from the team currently tending to personal matters.

— The following players returned from injury on Wednesday: offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley (undisclosed), right tackle Braden Smith (knee)

— The following players left practice early with apparent injuries: wide receiver Malik Turner, wide receiver Ashton Dulin, defensive end Genard Avery

— The 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills focused primarily on moving the ball with plays called at the line of scrimmage. Both teams also ran a four-minute drill and two-minute drill near the end of practice.

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OFFENSE

— Quarterback Anthony Richardson had an efficient day overall, completing 15-of-19 passes (78.9%) in 11s to Michael Pittman Jr. (4), Kylen Granson (3), Josh Downs (3), Evan Hull, Alec Pierce, Kenyan Drake, Juwann Winfree, and Deon Jackson. It was a lot of underneath work, as downfield shots were mostly taken away. Entering the final period of 11s, Richardson had only one incomplete pass. His day of 7s was much shakier, at one point sailing a pass to Downs over the middle of the field, which was intercepted by Chicago safety Eddie Jackson. It appeared to be a miscommunication between Richardson and Downs rather than just a plain poor pass. 

— The primary first-unit offense was: Anthony Richardson (QB), Deon Jackson (RB), Michael Pittman Jr. (WR), Alec Pierce (WR), Josh Downs (WR), Kylen Granson (TE), Pharaoh Brown (TE), Bernhard Raimann (LT), Quenton Nelson (LG), Danny Pinter (C), Will Fries (RG), Braden Smith (RT). Fries left during practice with a wrap on his right calf and was replaced by Arlington Hambright. Hambright has had a great camp, playing primarily with the second unit at left tackle.

— It was not a banner day for the first-team offensive line, who gave up a couple of would-be sacks on Richardson (in fairness, Richardson still holds the ball a little too long), and about a half-dozen penalties. The run game also failed to get rolling.

#Colts WR Ashton Dulin leaves #Bears CB Greg Stroman Jr. behind for the deep TD in 1-on-1s (from QB Sam Ehlinger). pic.twitter.com/THkH9T9jy2

— Jake Arthur (@JakeArthurNFL) August 16, 2023

— It was a solid day for Pittman, Pierce, Downs, and Dulin from the start in 1-on-1s up into team drills. While Dulin left the field early, the other three routinely made tough catches during 11s and were used heavily in the passing game. While running hurry-up, Richardson consistently looked to Pittman and Downs to move the chains, which they were quite successful in doing. Both players also routinely won in their 1-on-1s.

— In a late period of 11s, Gardner Minshew found Isaiah McKenzie in motion along the left side, and McKenzie made a hard cut that sent two Bears defenders flying out of the picture as McKenzie sprinted down the field while his coaches and teammates screamed in excitement around him.

— It was not a great day for the Colts' run game by any means, but Jason Huntley showed off some great agility in creating some space.

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DEFENSE

— Starting defensive ends Kwity Paye/Samson Ebukam got to Bears quarterback Justin Fields for a would-be sack late in practice.

— It was a big day for a pair of Colts safeties, as Nick Cross intercepted two passes; one in 7s (P.J. Walker) and the other in 11s (Fields), both of which were caught off of tips. Rodney Thomas II also had an interception off of Fields in 11s.

— Late during 11s, Fields had a pair of great downfield throws to D.J. Moore over the middle of the field with Tony Brown in coverage, and then to Velus Jones Jr. deep down the left sideline with Dallis Flowers in coverage. Brown and Flowers both promptly broke up passes by Fields right after.

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