WESTFIELD â The Indianapolis Colts held training camp practice No. 15 at Grand Park on Wednesday and are currently dealing with several setbacks as the injury-bug has spread throughout the locker room.
First Team All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard had back surgery in June and has sat out all of training camp without putting the pads on during practice. Leonard agreed to undergo surgery to address a nerve issue that caused a nagging pain in his left ankle during the 2021 season. The defensive leader for the Colts has thus acted as the energetic voice on the field of dreams facility that has been his training camp home since his rookie year in 2018.
Punter Rigoberto Sanchez ruptured the achilles in his right, kicking leg on Tuesday at the end of practice while the team was running sprints. After an unfortunate test result, the Colts have confirmed that Sanchez, one of three players to earn AFC Player of the Week honors for his Week 4 and Week 7 performances, is out for the season.
âI feel like it’s my own son that got hurt. How much time heâs put in and the work, I just appreciate him so much,â Colts special teams coach Bubba Ventrone said. Indianapolis signed former Bills punter Matt Haack after a successful workout amongst several other free agent punters on Wednesday.
Pro bowl center Ryan Kelly did not practice on Wednesday after testing positive for COVID-19.
The medical staff attended to defensive end Kwitty Paye when he went down after a play during 11-on-11 drills, but are optimistic that the knee injury suffered at practice is not too serious.
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor acknowledged that there are more things to accomplish and aspects in his game to improve on to become a complete player. For the key skill player on the roster to pay attention to the details of each play, he must care just as much during the plays that are not designed for him.
âWell No. 1, you know that youâve never arrived,â Taylor said. âIf you have arrived, you would already be in the Hall of Fame, they would try to put you in there right now.â
Colts running back Jonathan Taylor earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2021, while leading the NFL with 1,811 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns.
Head coach Frank Reich and the offense demonstrated heavy run plays with three towering tight ends Mo Allie-Cox (6â5â), Kylen Granson (6â3â) and rookie Jelani Woods (6â7â) all earning reps.
Matt Ryan favored Michael Pittman Jr. twice as much as any other receiver during training camp and the pair were in sync on Wednesday, connecting for multiple 15-yard slant routes during team drills. Ryan finished 6-for-8 during 7-on-7 drills and threw a 35-yard TD pass to Parris Campbell during 11-on-11 team drills.
The practice scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday has been moved indoors to the Grand Park Events Center. With one day left in training camp and preparing to host the preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, the Colts still have major decisions to make towards the roster that will be cut to 53 players next Tuesday.