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USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Tyler Warren highlights from Indianapolis Colts' training camp practices
Take a look at a few Tyler Warren highlights from the Indianapolis Colts' training camp practices. Take a look at a few Tyler Warren highlights from the Indianapolis Colts' training camp practices. After a relatively quiet first day of practice, Warren's presence has been felt in the passing game over the last two. He's been a favorite target over the middle of the field, where he can be a difficult matchup with his combination of size and athleticism, and he's made some difficult catches in traffic as well. That pass-catching reliability that Warren has already displayed is one of the many aspects of his game that drew the Colts to him during the pre-draft process. 'Something we thought was a real strength of his was his hands, his ability to focus, concentrate, and make those tough catches,' Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said via the Indy Star. Given the Colts' need for a pass-catching presence at tight end, Warren's ability in the passing game will garner a lot of the attention. However, his impact goes well beyond that facet of the game. As offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter mentioned, the full extent of what Warren can do won't be recognized until the pads come on and his physicality and blocking abilities can be displayed as well. "We haven't even seen him in pads, which I think is going to be a real strength of his," Cooter said. "When he gets to play football in pads, the extra elements of his game are going to come alive." This do-it-all presence brings a level of unpredictability to an offense with Warren able to wear so many hats.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Colts' free agent signee stands out on Day 1 of training camp
Indianapolis Colts' free agent signee, cornerback Charvarius Ward, impressed during the team's first training camp practice. "Very impressed," Shane Steichen said of Ward, via Locked on Colts. "Great signing by Chris (Ballard) to get him on this football team. You saw how sticky he was and the plays he made. I don't know how many he made today, but he made a ton. Great to have him out there." According to the Indy Star's Joel Erickson, two of the plays that Ward made in practice were pass breakups against Alec Pierce on a deep route and then against Michael Pittman. This offseason, the Colts signed Ward to a three-year, $54 million free agent deal. He joins the Colts one year removed from an All-Pro season in 2023. That year, Ward had five interceptions, 17 pass breakups, and allowed a completion rate of just 54%, per PFF. Beyond the production, Ward brings winning experience to the Colts defense--something this team doesn't have a lot of--having played in two Super Bowls, winning one of them. He's also a great fit for Lou Anarumo's defensive system, with his ability to play on an island and match up with a variety of wide receiver skill sets. "It's go time," Ward said via Locked on Colts after practice. "It's training camp time. It isn't time to be eased into anything right now. I'm getting ready for the season. We're getting ready for a long run, hopefully to make the playoffs. We all in, 10 toes deep right now." Ward, along with Cam Bynum and Anarumo calling the plays, will play a key role in turning this Colts' secondary around this season. A year ago, the Colts ranked in the bottom third of the NFL in passer rating, completion rate, pass deflections, and yards per pass attempt allowed. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts training camp: CB Charvarius Ward stands out on Day 1 of practice
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Vikings' Will Fries nears return despite missing first day of training camp
Last season, the Indianapolis Colts' offensive line was one of its key weapons and areas of promise heading into the season. It quickly took a beating, including losing guard Will Fries for the season following a broken tibia in Week 5 against the Jaguars. Fast forward to this offseason, Fries signed with the Vikings for five-years, $88 million in a deal that was seen as a gamble by some, but a promising investment by the team. Meanwhile, despite the massive money involved, Fries was not yet healthy. Despite his health being up in the air, the former Nittany Lion avoided a PUP list placement to start training camp. He spoke with Sports Illustrated's Will Ragatz after practice on Wednesday, and he informed him he is on track with his recovery timeline and everything is heading in the right direction. Once Fries is back for the Vikings, they will be able to get reps in with their three new starters on the interior offensive line. Ryan Kelly came over from the Colts with Will Fries in free agency, and the team drafted guard Donovan Jackson with their first-round pick in April.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Colts' rookie, not named Tyler Warren, gets key opportunity on Day 1 of training camp
A Colts' rookie, not named Tyler Warren, got a key opportunity on Day 1 of training camp to work with the starters. It shouldn't come as a major surprise, given how offseason programs unfolded, but Indianapolis Colts' rookie cornerback Justin Walley was running with the ones during the first training camp practice, taking reps opposite of Charvarius Ward. "Well, he's a pretty damn good player," Shane Steichen said after practice. "He did some really good things in the spring, so he's going to compete at that spot." The reason that I say this shouldn't come as a surprise is because throughout OTAs and minicamp, Walley received a lot of high praise from both coaches and teammates for his play. A third-round pick by the Colts, Walley is a bit undersized, but hyper competitive and brings great speed to the position. His ability to play in man coverages, ball production, along with the Colts' viewing him as a versatile defender, make him a very good fit for Lou Anarumo's defensive scheme. 'That's a good thing for him, a good thing for us,' Ward said, via the Indy Star. 'He's balling as a young guy, he's only going to get better with more reps.' As GM Chris Ballard outlined on Tuesday, Walley, along with Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents, are competing for that starting spot. Ultimately, as Anarumo described earlier this offseason, he is looking for consistency.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones on Colts' QB competition after Day 1 of training camp
Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones discussed the Colts' QB competition after the first training camp practice. Following the Indianapolis Colts' first training camp practice, head coach Shane Steichen mentioned that he sat down with both Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, laying out what he's looking for in this competition and what the next month of practices and games will look like. In short, Steichen--as he has said all offseason--is searching for consistency at the game's most important position. To see who can best provide that, Richardson and Jones will be splitting first-team reps, as they did during Wednesday's practice. "I think just performing at a high level and showing consistency," Jones said, via "My preparation, consistency on the field and my performance. It's a long process, and focusing on kind of what I'm doing day to day I think is the best way to go about it, so that's what I'm focused on." With Richardson sidelined during most of OTAs and minicamp, Jones was able to take the bulk of the first-team reps at that time. While his performance in May and June won't earn him the starting job, Steichen did say during minicamp that he was "very pleased" with Jones' performance. Richardson took some time off to let his shoulder rest, but has been throwing the last several weeks, as GM Chris Ballard mentioned on Tuesday. Steichen didn't say that Richardson was behind entering training after missing those reps in OTAs and minicamp, but did mention that urgency--from both Richardson and Jones--is needed. 'When it comes to competition, of course I'm competing with Daniel, but I'm also competing with myself," Richardson said, via the Indy Star. "Trying to be a better version of myself than I was last year." Although he's practicing, Richardson is still on a volume restriction for the time being. In order not to impact the competition and to make sure both quarterbacks get equal first-team reps, that rest period for Richardson will come during the individual portions of practice. A priority for Richardson this offseason has been on his footwork to become more accurate on those short to intermediate throws. For a quarterback, that is where accuracy and fundamentally sound mechanics often begin. "It's just loving the process," Richardson said. "These past two years, I've definitely tried to embrace that a little bit more. Everybody wants success, right here, right now. I feel like sometimes when you get success it's not really all what it seems. The process is really the best thing. That's really what I'm trying to enjoy now."
