Colts Training Camp Journal, Day 10: Richardson to Start vs. Bills
The Indianapolis Colts are nearly ready for their preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, and they concluded their week of practice with a quick, un-padded indoor affair on Thursday.
Following practice, head coach Shane Steichen announced that rookie Anthony Richardson, who took all of the first-team reps on Thursday, will get the start at quarterback this Saturday in Buffalo.
Horseshoe Huddle's own Jake Arthur, Zach Hicks, Andrew Moore, and Drake Wally were in attendance for Thursday's practice and now provide their notes from the sidelines.
TEAM
— The following players missed practice: running back Zavier Scott (undisclosed), Zack Moss (arm), cornerback Kenny Moore II (ankle), safety Rodney Thomas II (toe), safety Julian Blackmon (hamstring), running back Deon Jackson (quad), linebacker JoJo Domann (undisclosed), offensive tackle Braden Smith (knee), tight end Jelani Woods (hamstring), tight end Mo Alie-Cox (ankle), tight end Drew Ogletree (undisclosed), tight end Will Mallory (hamstring), and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (foot). Running back Jonathan Taylor (ankle) is the last player remaining on the PUP list but is rehabbing away from the team.
— Running back Kenyan Drake left the field late in practice with an apparent injury and did not return.
— Another day, another skirmish. After a dust-up occurred in the Colts' most recent practice, there was another on Thursday. This time, Steichen hopped in the middle to break things up before the team finished up its final period of 11-on-11s before practice concluded.
— The 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills focused primarily on red zone, high red zone (35-yard line), and working from the offense's own 35-yard line.
OFFENSE
— The quarterbacks in general had a pretty rough day. Richardson went 5-of-12 passing (41.7%) with completions to Isaiah McKenzie (2), Evan Hull, Jake Funk, and Alec Pierce. Overall, Richardson's accuracy was a bit all over the place. He often sailed passes after not settings his feet and had some throws behind receivers. He did have some highlights, however, as he found Michael Pittman Jr. from about 15-20 yards out in the back of the end zone for a touchdown during 7-on-7s. He also found Pierce late in practice during 11-on-11s on a downfield back-shoulder pass along the left sideline.
— Gardner Minshew went 9-of-12 passing (75.0%) but was in a dink-and-dunk mood finding most of his pass-catchers within five yards or so. He completed passes to Josh Downs (4), Nick Eubanks, Funk, Ashton Dulin, and Jason Huntley.
— The primary theoretical first-unit offensive players were as follows: Anthony Richardson (QB), Evan Hull (RB), Michael Pittman Jr. (WR), Alec Pierce (WR), Isaiah McKenzie (WR), Kylen Granson (TE), Bernhard Raimann (LT), Quenton Nelson (LG), Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (RG), and Blake Freeland (RT). Jake Funk (RB), Josh Downs (WR), Ashton Dulin (WR), Mike Strachan (WR), and Pharaoh Brown (TE) all got some reps as well.
— The second-unit line featured Arlington Hambright (LT), Wesley French (LG), Danny Pinter (C), Emil Ekiyor (RG), and Dan Skipper (RT).
DEFENSE
— It was a good day for a couple of pass rushers, as Dayo Odeyingbo was able to have some nice, productive reps against left tackle Bernhard Raimann during 11-on-11s, and Genard Avery had a would-be sack against Richardson during 11s.
— Cornerback Dallis Flowers had a nice day in coverage, breaking up a couple of passes and also bodying Pittman out of position as an errant Richardson pass flew out of the back of the end zone.
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