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6 Indianapolis Colts players on offense to watch during training camp
Training camp is almost here for the Indianapolis Colts. The rookies will report on July 21st, the veterans on July 22nd, and the first practice will take place on the 23rd.
There are always numerous storylines to watch for as camp unfolds, many centered around positional battles. But for now, we will focus our attention on specific players.
Going through each unit on the offensive side of the football, here is one particular player to watch closely over the next several weeks.
Quarterback: Anthony Richardson
ESPN's Stephen Holder reported recently that Richardson is "believed to have recovered from his recent right shoulder setback." Holder added that Richardson has already been throwing, but did also mention that the Colts' training staff still has to evaluate Richardson's shoulder and the possibility of there being a "pitch count" as he ramps up.
Richardson would miss most of OTAs and all of minicamp due to a shoulder setback. That left all of the first team reps for Daniel Jones, who seemingly made the most of those opportunities. What took place in offseason programs won't determine who starts Week 1, but Richardson will have to hit the ground running after missing valuable reps.
Running back: DJ Giddens
Giddens will be competing for the RB2 reps behind Jonathan Taylor. He joins the Colts after eclipsing 1,000 rushing yards in each of the last two seasons at Kansas State. This included averaging an impressive 6.5 yards per rush in 2024 as he was very difficult to bring down. Giddens also brings some pass-catching experience to the backfield, which the Colts could certainly use.
Wide receiver: AD Mitchell
After a rocky rookie season, AD Mitchell is off to an "exciting start" this offseason, as offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter put it. It's been evident since Day 1 that Mitchell has the ability to get open, brings added playmaking potential to the offense, and he has the ability to attack all levels of the field. The big thing that's needed, however, is more consistency.
Tight end: Tyler Warren
All eyes are going to be on Tyler Warren, who has already been a go-to target in the passing game. It was "practically impossible to watch an Indianapolis practice and not notice how often Warren touched the football," wrote Holder. But in training camp, with the pads on, we will get a much better look at the overall impact Warren can have with his versatility and ability in the run game as a blocker. His do-it-all skill set will allow him to make his mark in a variety of ways.
Offensive line: Tanor Bortolini and Matt Goncalves
It's a tie here, with Bortolini the presumed starter at center in place of Ryan Kelly, and Goncalves is presumably taking over at right guard for Will Fries--although both will be competing for those roles, says offensive line coach Tony Sparano. Bortolini would hold his own when called upon as a rookie, and while Goncalves doesn't have much experience in games at guard, he practiced there last season and improved as the year went on. But with that said, these are still two relatively inexperienced players, and with that can come some unknowns.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts training camp: 6 Key players to watch on offense
