For perhaps the final time at Grand Park Sports Campus, the Indianapolis Colts turned the page toward a new season and opened training camp. The first practice won’t define the 2026 season, but Wednesday’s session featured a healthy starting quarterback, one of the league’s deepest secondaries and new faces stepping up into more significant roles.
The biggest takeaway from the first open practice was watching quarterback Daniel Jones back in action after being cleared without restrictions. The eight-year
veteran took every first-team rep during the hour-long practice and looked comfortable directing Shane Steichen’s offense, then mentioned afterward he felt satisfied about the energy of the new season. Jones finished just 4-of-8 during the competitive team periods as the Colts assembled a secondary capable of making every completion difficult throughout camp.
With former All-Pro cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward blanketing Colts receivers, the throwing windows instantly disappeared after the snap. In the final team session, Ward swatted away a curl route intended for receiver Laquon Treadwell before Gardner broke up Jones’ final pass intended for receiver Josh Downs. Jones still flashed several encouraging moments, connecting with Tyler Warren on a hitch and a post route during the opening team period.
During the 7-on-7 session, Jones delivered a couple of deeper completions to Ashton Dulin on a post and out route, then connected with Treadwell on a dig. Jones most impressive lead pass was to running back Jonathan Taylor on a wheel route after he ran past linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither down the sideline.
For the first time in the five years I’ve been covering training camp, there isn’t a starting QB position battle. The only quarterback battle appears to be behind Jones as Anthony Richardson Sr. and Riley Leonard split second-team opportunities throughout practice to compete for the backup job. Leonard experienced more growing pains of working with the backups and his toughest moment came when he rolled left to keep the play alive before floating a duck of a pass that safety Trey Washington intercepted while diving near the sideline. The quarterback rotation may have even contributed to an errant exchange with second-team center Dalton Tucker as one snap sailed over the head of Leonard.
The offense featured much return from last season. The only players who stepped up into new roles were Dulin and Treadwell, who occupied the outside receiver spots with Alec Pierce unavailable. Despite combining for 17 NFL seasons, the veteran duo enters camp looking to expand their roles with just 10 career touchdowns between them.
The revamped defense showed just how much turnover occurred during the offseason. Six new players lined up with Lou Anarumo’s starting defensive unit, beginning with free-agent additions Arden Key off the edge and Akeem Davis-Gaither at linebacker. Bryce Boettcher, one of the Colts’ rookie linebackers, worked alongside Davis-Gaither with the starters as first-round draft pick CJ Allen begins camp on the physically unable to perform list. Allen’s absence also highlighted Davis-Gaither’s familiarity with Anarumo’s system. Before nearly every snap, Anarumo stepped into the defensive huddle to relay play calls through his veteran linebacker as the pair shared five years in Cincinnati.
Along the defensive front, Colby Wooden worked with the starters alongside Grover Stewart while veteran DeForest Buckner continues progressing toward his 10th NFL season.
The secondary also featured several new combinations as Justin Walley handled first-team nickel responsibilities in place of longtime cornerback Kenny Moore II. Hunter Wohler took reps with the starters at strong safety. Jonathan Owens and AJ Haulcy are also in the mix as one of the most intriguing position competitions on the roster officially began.
The first practice won’t define the season, but Wednesday offered an early glimpse into what kind of identity this Colts team shows in 2026. The Colts return to Grand Park for morning practices on Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. before the opening week of training camp concludes with a Saturday afternoon session.
