INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Following Thursday night’s preseason opener, the Indianapolis Colts returned to the practice field Saturday for another workout, spending much of the afternoon indoors while concentrating on red-zone and end-zone situations.
The practice lacked the intensity of a game day, but it still provided several noteworthy developments — particularly on defense, where Indianapolis’ secondary once again made life difficult for the offense.
Secondary Continues to Impress
The Colts’ cornerback group has quickly become one of the most intriguing storylines of training camp.
With Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward, and Justin Walley among the team’s top options, Indianapolis has the potential to field a deep and talented secondary.
Walley received additional opportunities on the outside Saturday with Ward sidelined and made the most of them. He recorded several pass breakups and consistently stayed close to Indianapolis receivers.
The tight coverage forced quarterback Daniel Jones to hold the football on several occasions while waiting for receivers to separate.
In an actual game, that type of coverage could give the Colts’ pass rush additional time to reach the quarterback.
Jones Finds the End Zone
Despite the defense’s strong performance, Jones still managed to make several plays during 11-on-11 red-zone work.
One of his best connections came with Josh Downs, who made an impressive touchdown reception. Downs appeared to come down awkwardly after the catch and was briefly attended to by trainers, but he was able to leave the field under his own power and eventually returned to practice.
Jones also connected with Ashton Dulin, Seth McGowan, Laquon Treadwell and Tyler Warren for touchdown receptions during the red-zone period.
Warren, in particular, made another impressive athletic catch as he continues to make his presence felt during camp.
Backup Quarterbacks Show Flashes
Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard both received opportunities with the second-team offense.
The results were mixed, but both quarterbacks displayed good chemistry with wide receiver Raylen Sharpe, who emerged as one of the afternoon’s most productive targets.
Sharpe made several touchdown catches during red-zone work, giving both Richardson and Leonard a reliable option near the goal line.
Bentley Continues to Make His Case
Running back Ulysses Bentley IV was another player who caught attention.
Bentley made several impressive receptions and continues to show that he can contribute in multiple phases of the offense.
His strong camp could put him in position to compete for a roster spot rather than simply being viewed as a potential practice-squad candidate.
Latu Remains a Problem for Offenses
Third-year edge rusher Laiatu Latu continued his strong training camp with another active afternoon.
Latu consistently created pressure and appeared to record approximately two would-be sacks during the 11-on-11 periods, along with several additional pressures on Jones.
The Colts are expecting Latu to take another major step forward this season, and his performance throughout camp suggests he’s trending in that direction.
Pierce Begins More Active Work
One encouraging development involved wide receiver Alec Pierce, who remains sidelined while recovering from an ankle issue.
Pierce worked along the sideline with wide receivers coach Reggie Wayne, catching passes and showing off his athleticism.
While he wasn’t yet running or making sharp cuts, the work was more involved than simply standing and catching passes. Pierce was required to adjust his body and make several difficult receptions.
His eventual return would provide a major boost to a receiving corps that has dealt with several absences during camp.
Injury List Continues to Grow
Several Colts did not participate in Saturday’s practice, including:
CJ Allen — hamstring
Jalen Farmer — offensive guard
Anthony Gould — wide receiver
DJ Giddens — hamstring
Derrick Nnadi — defensive tackle
Alec Pierce — ankle/PUP
Nolan Rucci — offensive tackle
Luke Tenuta — knee
Charvarius Ward — back
The Colts will continue monitoring those players as the preseason progresses.
Mason Returns Quickly
Special teams coordinator Brian Mason was also back on the field Saturday after suffering multiple ligament injuries to his left knee during Thursday night’s preseason opener following a sideline collision.
Mason was wearing a knee brace but was already back working with the team — an encouraging sight for Indianapolis.
The Colts are also preparing for potential emergency situations.
Rookie edge rusher Caden Curry took some snaps as an emergency long snapper during practice. With Luke Rhodes handling the primary long-snapping duties, Indianapolis is making sure it has contingency options should an injury occur during a game.
Defense Remains the Story
While Saturday’s practice wasn’t particularly eventful, the continued performance of the defense is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.
The Colts’ secondary is consistently challenging the receivers, while Latu and the defensive front continue creating pressure.
If Indianapolis can maintain that level of coverage and pass rush once the games become more meaningful, the defense could become one of the team’s biggest strengths heading into the 2026 season.
For now, the Colts will continue using training camp to evaluate their roster, manage injuries and determine which players are ready to make an impact when the regular season arrives.
