According to the IndyStar’s Nate Atkins, Indianapolis Colts longtime general manager Chris Ballard expects a physical training camp this year:
Chris Ballard said to expect a really physical training camp.
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) July 22, 2025
He’s pretty happy with the competition he’s brought in at a number of positions and listed center, swing tackle, linebacker and D-Line rotations as key spots for that.
That added physicality could be as a result of Ballard acknowledging earlier this offseason that he “didn’t create enough competition
on the roster, and keep everyone on edge.”
A sentiment that was shared even earlier by veteran Pro Bowler and team captain DeForest Buckner—who cited locker room complacency and egos as pitfalls of the 2024 Colts, as there was a lack of team-wide competition for roles and playing time.
That hopefully should change this training camp, as a number of players will have to earn their starting jobs and reps—and that could lead to increased competitiveness and physicality.
It works a bit both ways though.
The NFL is a marathon season (a campaign that has gotten even longer with an added game), and it’s important to keep guys healthy and fresh for the entire stretch. There’s no need to have senseless physicality, which could lead to unnecessary injuries or ailments.
That being said, the Colts could presumably benefit from having improved collective competition and each player competing with a greater sense of urgency and purpose.
With that anticipated increased physicality, I do wonder how the Colts depth will hold up along the interior of the offensive line, having lost both Ryan Kelly and Will Fries to the Minnesota Vikings in free agency, as well as at starting linebacker—where both Zaire Franklin and Jaylon Carlies are recovering from earlier offseason surgeries respectively.
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