WESTFIELD, Ind. — The Indianapolis Colts completed their eighth training camp practice Saturday at Grand Park, and while the offense struggled to maintain the rhythm it had established earlier in camp, the defense delivered one of its strongest performances of the summer.
The biggest standout was third-year edge rusher Laiatu Latu, who appeared to be everywhere during 11-on-11 action.
Latu repeatedly found his way into the backfield, disrupting running plays and creating several plays that would have resulted in sacks had quarterbacks been live. His performance represented a significant step forward as Indianapolis looks for the former first-round pick to emerge as a consistent difference-maker along the defensive front.
Latu Takes Over
Saturday was arguably Latu’s most dominant practice of camp.
The edge defender also won several important battles during one-on-one drills, including matchups against second-year offensive tackle Jalen Travis.
Travis had handled his previous encounters with Latu effectively throughout the first week of camp, but the balance shifted Saturday as Latu consistently used his speed and power to get around the young tackle.
The Colts have high expectations for Latu entering the 2026 season. Indianapolis believes his development during his first two NFL seasons, combined with his offseason work, can position him to become one of the team’s premier pass rushers.
While Latu had been productive during camp, Saturday represented the first practice in which he appeared to completely take over.
For defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, that development could be particularly important as he continues installing his defensive system.
Receiver Depth Becomes a Concern
The Colts’ wide receiver situation, meanwhile, remains one of the biggest questions surrounding the offense.
Alec Pierce continues to work his way back from offseason ankle surgery, and Indianapolis was without another key receiver Saturday when Josh Downs missed practice because of a groin injury.
With both players unavailable, the Colts’ starting receiver group consisted of Ashton Dulin, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Anthony Gould.
Dulin provided some of the offense’s better moments, making several impressive receptions throughout the practice.
Still, the absence of Pierce and Downs exposed the lack of proven depth behind Indianapolis’ top options.
Downs’ injury also adds another layer of uncertainty. There was no immediate timetable provided for his return.
Jones Battles a Tough Secondary
Quarterback Daniel Jones had a solid overall practice, particularly toward the end of the session, but the Colts’ offense struggled to consistently generate explosive plays through the air.
Jones often appeared to take what the defense offered, but the defense wasn’t offering much.
Indianapolis’ starting secondary produced several strong coverage sequences, forcing incompletions, throwaways and plays that would likely have resulted in sacks in a live-game setting.
The defense did not record an interception during the practice, but its ability to consistently limit the passing attack was one of the day’s most noticeable developments.
Defense Showing Its Potential
The performance continued what has been an encouraging stretch for Anarumo’s revamped defense.
The Colts’ secondary has displayed strong coverage throughout camp, allowing the pass rush to have additional opportunities to pressure quarterbacks. That combination could become one of Indianapolis’ biggest strengths if it carries over into the regular season.
The defense was nearly at full strength Saturday, with rookie linebacker C.J. Allen remaining sidelined.
Injury Update
Two defensive players continued to miss practice because of hamstring injuries.
Safety Hunter Wohler sat out his fifth consecutive practice, while Allen missed his second straight session.
Downs was also absent because of his groin injury.
The Colts have not announced timetables for the returns of Wohler, Allen or Downs.
Looking Ahead
Saturday’s practice provided a mixed evaluation for Indianapolis.
The offense struggled to find consistency, particularly with key receivers unavailable, while the defense continued to show why there is optimism surrounding Anarumo’s unit.
For Latu, however, the day was especially significant.
After a solid first week of camp, he finally produced the type of dominant performance the Colts have been waiting to see. If Saturday’s showing becomes a regular occurrence, Indianapolis could have a major difference-maker emerging on the edge just as the preseason approaches.
