CINCINNATI — Anthony Richardson had nowhere to go with the football. All of his Indianapolis Colts’ receivers were covered, so the dual-threat quarterback tucked the ball and ran. In a real game, he wouldn’t have made it far, and the Cincinnati Bengals defense was quick to remind him of that during Tuesday’s joint practice.
“Throw the ball, bro!” Bengals defensive tackle B.J. Hill yelled at Richardson, knowing full well Richardson had no one to throw the ball to.
Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt quickly joined in on the trash talk.
“Is that all he does is run?” Taylor-Britt said, directing his barb toward a few Colts fans in the crowd.
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On Richardson’s next snap in 11-on-11, he did throw the ball — to the wrong team. The second-year quarterback tried to force a pass to Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. on a comeback route, but their timing was off, and the ball was deflected. Cincinnati linebacker Logan Wilson came down with the interception, and the Bengals celebrated by taunting Richardson yet again.
None of it looked good.
“He’s just throwing to spots,” Bengals safety Geno Stone yelled at one point. “He doesn’t see his receivers.”
Final #Colts camp recap:
• Anthony Richardson, first-team offense struggle
• Bengals defense talking plenty of trash
• Raekwon Davis returns
• Jelani Woods will be out for a while
• Indy defense steps up
• Jaylon Jones snags two picksMore coming to @TheAthleticNFL! pic.twitter.com/QDcjmbGtne
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) August 20, 2024
Richardson would eventually end the day 10-of-20 passing with one pick, one touchdown and a lot of frustration. Colts coach Shane Steichen declined to comment much on Indy’s first-team offense since he chose to spend much of his day watching the Colts’ first-team defense.
But Colts center Ryan Kelly had a front-row seat to the Colts’ struggles, which included several leaky moments from the offensive line that led to Richardson being rushed or running back Jonathan Taylor being stuffed. Kelly, who was born in nearby West Chester, Ohio, noted that the Colts didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for Cincinnati when normally they would have an entire week.
“I think what you really have to do is look at the film,” Kelly said. “How did we play fundamentally? I don’t think you look at Xs and Os, because we didn’t have the time to game plan against them, right? They’re gonna throw their best at us, and I’m not making excuses for us. I thought we had a good day at times.”
Richardson, after throwing another near-interception to Taylor-Britt and being “sacked” by Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, finally threw his lone TD pass to Adonai Mitchell. In the absence of Josh Downs (ankle), the rookie wide receiver continues to line up in the slot and ran a nifty route to the inside before breaking back outside and plucking the ball out of the air in between a pair of Cincinnati defensive backs.
Richardson’s best stretch of Tuesday’s practice came during a two-minute drill near the end. He completed 3-of-5 passes, two to tight end Kylen Granson and one to Pittman, to guide the Colts into field goal range. Matt Gay then drilled a 50-plus-yard attempt, which was an encouraging sight for the former Pro Bowl kicker who has missed three of his first four field-goal attempts in the Colts’ first two preseason games.
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Kelly said it was no surprise the Colts moved the ball well in the two-minute drill.
“I think it certainly helps us up front, keeps them on their heels a little bit,” he said. “(They) just have a hard time subbing, hard time getting in pressure looks. … They’re tired. They don’t know what they’re doing. Miscommunications happen. That’s how you score points. So, I’m sure that’ll be a big part of what we do this year.”
Steichen announced that Colts starters will play into the second quarter of Thursday’s preseason finale against the Bengals before having 17 days to prepare for the season opener at home against Houston.
“I think it’ll be really good for (Richardson),” Steichen said. “Any time you can get out there in those game-like situations, it’s good. Obviously, you want to be smart with these guys in the preseason because we’ve got a long season ahead of us, but we’re excited to get those guys out there.”
Davis returns
One day after being activated off the non-football illness list due to high blood pressure, Raekwon Davis made his Colts practice debut Tuesday. The massive defensive tackle, whom the Colts signed to a two-year, $14 million deal, appeared to have no restrictions in his return. He was a little out of breath after practice, but more than anything he was excited to be back in action.
Davis said the Colts’ medical staff detected his high blood pressure after he underwent a physical when he reported to training camp. He’s appreciative of the detailed care they gave him as he worked to get it under control.
“I’m so grateful for (the Colts’ medical staff) just to catch that type of problem because we’ve been seeing so much high blood pressure, with heart attacks and things like that,” Davis said. “So, it’s a great thing they caught that. It was a hassle just to get back, but I’m back trying to work my way up, trying to work my back (into) shape.”
Asked if he needed more time to get ready for the regular season, Davis responded, “Hell, nah,” with a big smile. “I’m ready to go.”
Veteran wide receiver Ashton Dulin also returned to practice after being sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Woods out indefinitely
It’s more bad news for Jelani Woods. The Colts tight end was diagnosed with a turf joe injury that will require surgery and is out indefinitely, a league source told The Athletic on Tuesday.
It’s highly unlikely Woods will be ready for the start of the regular season, and his absence throws his roster status into limbo. The 2022 third-round pick hasn’t had a very productive training camp in a crowded tight end room alongside Mo Alie-Cox, Kylen Granson, Drew Ogletree and Will Mallory, and at the moment, Woods appears to be the odd man out.
Indianapolis could always keep Woods on its 53-man roster anyway and simply place him on injured reserve to start the season, if the injury warrants that, but that would also stop the team from using that roster spot to bolster another position.
Colts cornerback JuJu Brents (nose), rookie center Tanor Bortolini (toe) and Downs (high right ankle) remain out. Downs was present at Tuesday’s practice and was not riding a scooter or wearing a walking boot, which is a welcome sign as his sophomore season approaches.
Defensive tidbits
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow never found the end zone Tuesday in 11-on-11. He was intercepted twice by second-year cornerback Jaylon Jones and was often under duress from the Colts’ pass rush.
Crashing the party. 🥳 pic.twitter.com/kBIf4QaHUm
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) August 20, 2024
The Colts continue to rotate safeties alongside proven veteran Julian Blackmon and haven’t named a starter.
“That rotation back there with those guys – Nick Cross and Rodney (Thomas II) and Ronnie (Harrison Jr.) and Trevor Denbow and Julian – we’re looking at all that stuff right now,” Steichen said. “ … We’ve got another week and a half before we start this thing off, and we’ll make that decision when the time needs to be made.”
After the Colts’ second preseason game, it looked like Cross was leading the competition, but we’ll have to wait a little longer to find out if he’s won the job.
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(Photo: Justin Casterline / Getty Images)
