The Colts’ first-ever training camp night practice was a smash hit.
Westfield, IN — For the first time, the Indianapolis Colts hosted a nighttime practice for training camp. With two massive light fixtures illuminating Grand Park’s southernmost field, aka Field 2, the 2025-26 Colts got a taste of primetime football exactly one week before the preseason slate begins.
Former Colts TE Jack Doyle kicked off the festivities by addressing the crowd before officially swearing in said night practice, which ran from 8-10 PM EST — a practice that was chock-full of team periods with special teams and a couple of walkthroughs sprinkled in.
It was an evening that figuratively began with fireworks and literally ended with fireworks (+ a lightshow that included a Colts horseshoe and a message that read ‘For Jim’). Not only was it the longest practice to date, but it turned out to be a terrific evening for all parties involved and, hopefully, an inaugural beginning.
QB Competition
The aforementioned figurative fireworks refer to that of the offense’s flashy evening, an aggressive script that took advantage of the slightly beat-up Colts defense. Both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones had their fair share of explosives throughout the night, especially early on.
To start, Daniel Jones ran with the starters for the first three 11-on-11 sessions. The first of which was a drive that had the offense starting at their own 30-yard line. Jones went 4-4 through the air while averaging no more than 5 yards depth of target: a well-timed out to Josh Downs, a low-thrown pass to Michael Pittman Jr. leaking in the flats who fell because of it, a screen to Jonathan Taylor for minimal yardage, and another completion to Pittman Jr. in the flats.
Anthony Richardson went 2-3 and scrambled once in his first of three 11-on-11 periods with the second team. His lone incompletion in this period was a well-thrown ball dropped into TE Drew Ogletree, who couldn’t hold after the defender jarred it loose. Richardson’s two completions were to Ashton Dulin, a connection that would evolve as practice goes on. One was a 15-yard dart from Richardson, while the other hit Dulin on a short crosser in stride for a run-after-catch opportunity.
Daniel Jones’s second 11-on-11 period with the starters was still efficient, a 3-4 showing through the air, though he was sacked on two other occasions — Laiatu Latu playing a hand in both, a solo sack by Latu, and then a quick pressure from the interior that allowed Kwity Paye to seal the deal. Jones hit Josh Downs on consecutive quick-hitting routes after missing late on his lone completion of the period and first of the day to that point, an ill-timed play-action attempt to Alec Pierce on a 15-yard sit/in route. The other completion was to Tyler Warren on a 15-yard in-breaker, a foreshadowing of things to come.
The next team period, an 11-on-11 session with Anthony Richardson and the second team, was when the fun began. Continuing their hot streak, Richardson found Ashton Dulin for the third time in four throws to that point, connecting on a beautiful pitch-and-catch in the corner of the end zone. The crowd went wild, Ashton Dulin (and Reggie Wayne) celebrated accordingly, and a group of fans took it upon themselves to declare the quarterback competition as over.
Daniel Jones had other ideas, though. Despite being bailed out entirely on what otherwise can only be described as a hospital ball, Jones found rookie tight end Tyler Warren in the middle of the field for an epic one-handed reception. Contorting his body while on the move to reach up with his dominant left hand, the rook eventually hauled it in to bring the crowd to its feet — and then, in true Tyler Warren fashion, instead of celebrating, he put his head down and ran back to the huddle to get ready for the next play. When he said that he was all about football in his opening press conference after getting drafted, he truly meant it.
In his last session with the second team, Anthony Richardson continued the offensive fireworks that he jump-started with another long connection with second-year WR Adonai Mitchell — the beginning of a camp-best evening for the young wideout. It was a well-placed ball up the right sideline that Mitchell hauled in via a strong contested grab. Quickly after the reception, the offense ran to the line and quickly snapped the ball, scoring a quick hitch from Richardson to TE Will Mallory.
The third 11-on-11 team period flipped the script, having Anthony Richardson roll with the starters and Daniel Jones with the second team. Richardson went 3-4 through the air in this session, starting with two connections to Ashton Dulin. The other completion found Josh Downs in stride on an out while his lone incompletion was a sideline shot that was just off the mark to Alec Pierce, though at least it was placed only where Pierce could catch it.
Daniel Jones’ first period with the backups took a minute to get started, an intended hitch to Drew Ogletree that was broken up, and a false start to ruin the mojo. Enter Adonai Mitchell. The aforementioned camp-best day began earlier with his big connection with Anthony Richardson, and intensified in this session behind Daniel Jones. Two short hookups instilled the confidence that materialized into another downfield shot to Mitchell. After drawing the defense offsides and netting a quarterback’s dream — the free play — Jones launched one up the right sideline that found Mitchell just before rookie safety Hunter Wohler could make a play on the ball.
The explosive play that preceded began to cool off with two periods left. In his first of two sessions left with the starters, Anthony Richardson went 2-3 in the air with one designed QB Rush for minimal yards. His two completions were quick-hitters to Josh Downs, with the lone incompletion coming off the fingertips of Alec Pierce, a concerted attempt by Richardson to get Pierce to come back to the ball/sideline out of his go-route. A notable rush in this period came off the legs of rookie RB DJ Giddens on a wide zone concept, who would have another strong rush with the third unit, this time between the tackles.
Daniel Jones responded with an efficient 4-5 showing in his second-to-last team period of the night. Three of his completions were quick-hitting routes, with his fourth being a fantastic throw on a cross to tight end Will Mallory for 30+ yards. In Jones’s last session, an 11-on-11 high red zone period from the opponent’s 25-yard line, Jones would connect with Mallory again for the score after a 50-50 ball to WR Anthony Gould garnered a defensive pass interference penalty.
Anthony Richardson’s final run of the day was in the same high red zone session with the starters, an overall poor showing, especially when compared to the rest of his night. All evening, Richardson had been decisive and well-intentioned; that is, until the final session in question. Although he didn’t throw any interceptions or abhorrently ill-advised throws, his decision-making was noticeably shaken. He was sacked twice, fumbling once, and his lone incompletion was an off-target short-field sideline shot.
The passcatchers could’ve done a better job getting separation early, the offensive line could’ve held up more, and Anthony Richardson shouldn’t have fumbled or gotten the ball out quicker. Again, this is mainly in comparison to his practice that preceded this session. Richardson was sharp as a tack all evening long, so to see this mini-collapse from the starting offense was an uninspiring conclusion to an otherwise great showing.
Laiatu Latu Dominates
The second-year pass rusher has a lot of pressure to blossom in his sophomore campaign. The pads didn’t come on until Monday; thus, tonight made just the third practice yet for positions like Laiatu Latu to showcase their progression, but the Colts’ 2024 first-round pick put on a show tonight.
In a practice where the defensive line lacked the All-Pro presence of DT DeForest Buckner, Laiatu Latu stepped up. Rushing from inside and out, Latu made his presence known early and often. Kicking off the second 11-on-11 session, Latu bypassed RT Braden Smith in a hurry to sack Daniel Jones. Just a few plays later, Latu bullrushed C Tanor Bortolini to get the quick pressure on Jones, forcing him to leave the pocket and eventually running out of bounds.
In the starters’ final 11-on-11 session, a high red zone period from the opponent’s 25-yard line, Latu got to Anthony Richardson in a hurry for the sack fumble. Once again, a few plays later, he and Kwity Paye combined for the would-be sack that blew the play dead. One fantastic practice shouldn’t singlehandedly dictate one’s expectations, though Latu certainly proved last night that he’s itching to take the next step.
Miscellaneous
- Injury Report: DT DeForest Buckner (OUT: foot injury, tbd), CB Charvarius Ward (OUT: rest), LB Zaire Franklin (rehab), CB Jaylon Jones (OUT: hamstring), CB JuJu Brents (hamstring), RB Salvon Ahmed (OUT: back)
- Rookie CB Justin Walley belongs. Even though he was primarily rotating in as the team’s de facto CB2 beforehand, Jones/Brents’ injuries plus Ward’s rest catapulted him to CB1 today, and he held his own for the most part.
- Rookie TE Tyler Warren is legit. This has already been stressed, but he just continues to impress with each practice. Even got some TE1 reps in 11 personnel.
- TEs: Will Mallory continues to impress as a big slot type of pass-catching tight end, more of a modern-day TE rather than your traditional one. Drew Ogletree, on the other hand, continues to drop passes. Thankfully, Ogletree is a plus blocker and will be utilized as such.
- Veteran WR Ashton Dulin is so reliable. He can truly do it all. Dulin and Richardson’s chemistry as of late is as apparent as ever. Just a fun player who enjoys doing the dirty work.
- Camp-best day for Adonai Mitchell. Zero drops by my count with a plethora of receptions, both short and long. Quiet days for Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce (to be fair, this WR room is likely to be run by committee, especially as a projected run-heavy team).