3 revelations to be determined when Colts host competitive joint-practice with Packers to close training camp

Colts fans have 13 chances to watch key position battles unfold during practice, including the open competition to decide the starting quarterback for the Week 1 opener against the Miami Dolphins inside Lucas Oil Stadium. 

When the Indianapolis Colts cap off training camp, the 2025 summer finale will feature a competitive joint-practice with the Green Bay Packers at Grand Park in Westfield.

The final Colts practice open to the public will be held on Aug. 14 from 3 to 5 pm, two days ahead of the preseason game in Indianapolis. This year marks the seventh training camp edition where a stampede of fans will assemble to watch the Colts workout at Grand Park. It will become the 11th season the Colts hold a joint-practice with another team, including each of the last four summers.

Colts rookies will report for camp July 21, with veteran players scheduled to officially report July 22. The first public practice kicks off the following morning at 10 a.m. as Colts fans have 13 chances to watch key position battles unfold during practice, including the open competition to decide the starting quarterback for the Week 1 opener against the Miami Dolphins inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones starting quarterback competition

Anthony Richardson enters his third season forced to prove his starter status. Richardson downplayed his latest setback and claimed the aggravation in his throwing shoulder, which caused him to miss minicamp, is ‘not even a bump in the road’. Since being drafted fourth overall by the Colts in the 2023 NFL Draft, Richardson has an NFL worst 50.6% completion rate and his 61.6 passer rating last season was the lowest among all starters. For what it’s worth, Daniel Jones posted the second-lowest passer rating among QBs who started at least 10 games in 2024.

Indianapolis signed Jones to a one-year deal during free agency with clear intentions to hold an open competition before naming a Week 1 starter. Jones received his fair share of criticism while playing his first six seasons in New York, but the veteran seeks to reclaim one of the NFL’s 32 starting QB jobs with a new franchise. Jones may not boast the athleticism, potential, or talent Richardson did as a prospect, but his career 2.1% interception rate is much more sustainable than Richardson’s league-worst 4.5% interception rate in 2024. Last season, Jones dealt with the adversity of being stripped of his NFL starter title before he was released by the Giants, who selected him sixth overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Perhaps the most significant revelation regarding the Colts training camp will be the quarterback that receives the first-team reps against the Packers first-team defense in the final summer practice. It’s safe to assume the most consistent QB over the next 45 days will ultimately decide who earns those first-team reps and takes firm control of the position battle ahead of the 2025 season.

Indianapolis revamped pass defense versus Green Bay receiving corps

Green Bay added loads of depth in its receiver room after selecting Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Jayden Reed and Romeo Doubs are proven veterans looking to bounce back after a decline in production last season. Christian Watson, Mecole Hardman and Dontayvion Wicks are also aiming to make an impact in Matt LaFluer’s offensive scheme this season.

Indianapolis felt it was necessary to upgrade the secondary this offseason and did so by signing cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Camryn Bynum to three-year deals early in free agency. The Colts also used a third-round draft pick on Justin Walley to add much-needed depth behind former pro bowl nickel Kenny Moore II. Perhaps the most intriguing session of the joint-practice will be discovering how Indy’s revamped defense fares against Jordan Love and the Packers receivers during 7-on-7 drills.

Showcase featuring 2 of NFL’s top 5 RBs

Since Jonathan Taylor entered the league in 2020, the top four rushers across the last five seasons include Derrick Henry, Taylor, Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley, in that order. Taylor finished fourth among all rushers with 1,431 rushing yards to earn his second pro bowl nod last season. Colts head coach Shane Steichen often leaned on Taylor for significant stretches to wear down defenses and will not hesitate to pulverize an opponent’s front line with his run-pass-option attack.

Josh Jacobs is a three-time pro bowler coming off a career-high 15 rushing touchdowns, one shy of the league-leaders. In his second game with the Packers, Jacobs racked up a season-high 151 rushing yards against the Colts. Jacobs finished fifth among all rushers with 73 first downs, while Taylor finished sixth with 71. It’s not often one practice in August can feature two of the world’s top five rushers, but both players plan to showcase what makes a star running back so valuable in 2025.

Fans can secure tickets to training camp on Ticketmaster.