Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard met with the media Tuesday as veterans and rookies reported for training camp.
With several question marks surrounding the team going into this new era, Ballard touched on several topics. Most of them included questions about injuries to star players and the progress of rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Here are nine takeaways from Ballard’s press conference to open training camp:
1
PUP updates
Ballard opened his press conference mentioning two players going on the active/PUP list.
“In terms of injuries, what I will tell you is – they are still giving physicals. The two that I will tell you that for sure will start out on PUP will be Tyquan Lewis – he’s just getting back from last year’s injury. Tyquan is a vet and he knows how to play. We’ll take our time. He’s getting close, but it will be a couple weeks. The other one is Will Mallory, who had a foot issue here in the spring. But he’s really close to being back.”
Though he wasn’t mentioned, running back Jonathan Taylor also was placed on the PUP list to begin training camp.
2
Shaquille Leonard making progress
Ballard discussed the major question mark that is Leonard’s health. He’s working his way back from a second surgery to correct a nerve issue in his back, but he was able to pass his physical for camp.
“Yeah. First thing is, let me tell you, he has worked extremely hard. He has passed the physical, but that does not mean he will be back in full contact. We’ve got a progression in play here. He will start out at practice and pretty much just go through individual, start building his endurance back up. But slowly but surely, we’ll get there. He has worked extremely hard. There is really no timeline on exactly when he’ll be completely cleared for contact, but it’s good to get him back – just his presence back on the team, back out in drill work is important for us.”
3
Jonathan Taylor's contract
Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Taylor will be looking for a new contract. Both sides have already engaged in talks but have yet to agree on a deal. It seems as though Ballard is going to let this situation play out.
“I mean look, our history is really good, but saying that, we’re coming off a four-win season, we have a new coaching staff. So, we’ll kind of let it play out as it does and make those decisions when we need to make those decisions.”
Ballard also mentioned he’s not opposed to getting a new deal done during the season.
“We could, and remember we did Grover (Stewart) during the season. We’re not against doing one during the season. But our coaches – I mean they haven’t had these guys in pads yet. So, new staff and we’ll work through that.”
4
Feeling good about Anthony Richardson
The No. 4 overall pick will be entering his first training camp competing for the starting quarterback job. Ballard has liked what he’s seen from the rookie but also understands there will be a learning curve.
“Look, he had a good offseason. He’s in really good hands with Shane (Steichen), Jim Bob (Cooter) and Cam (Turner). It’s day by day. With any young player, but he’s a young quarterback in this league. We look forward to seeing him compete with Gardner (Minshew II) and Sam (Ehlinger), who both showed some really good things this spring. But tomorrow is his first day and now we’re rolling. But he’s in good hands, he’s done the work, he’s a great kid. But he’s young – there is going to be some up-and-down moments in camp, some up-and-down moments when he eventually plays, but that’s part of the process of growing and learning and playing any position in this league.”
5
Belief in the offensive line
Despite not making any major moves on the offensive line, Ballard is confident they can enter the season with a strong group.
“Yeah, look – the one thing I think that got overlooked was at the end of the year, they didn’t play bad. They played bad early but the last half of the season, they played pretty good football. Then you get Bernard (Raimann) who gets another, he’s going to take another step. He had an excellent spring. With any young tackle, they’re going to have some struggles early. Look, he’s only going into his second year so he’ll have some struggles, I’m sure, this year too but he’s also grown. He’s stronger, he understands what to expect – he’ll take another step this year. I think as a unit, I think we’ll get better play out of all of them. From Ryan (Kelly) to Quenton (Nelson) to Braden (Smith) – I think all of them will play better. (Will) Fries has got another year under his belt. We’ve got good competition, not saying we’re not going to continue to look because that’s what we do, but I just felt at the end of the year we were running the ball really well at the end of the year.
“The pass protection needed to be better, which I think we will take another step. I think schematically, it’s going to help with what Shane (Steichen) and them are doing. Time will be the proof of whether we made the right decision or not. There were some points in the draft – I think I talked about this – where we had some guys targeted and it just didn’t end up working out. We like our fourth-round pick. We thought he had a good spring and we think he’s going to add good depth to the group. With Danny Pinter back, we feel like we’ve got some good pieces. They’re young, but that’s OK.”
6
Going young at cornerback was the plan
The offseason brought some big changes to the cornerback position, including the trade of Stephon Gilmore and the release of Isaiah Rodgers Sr. following his suspension. But Ballard said the plan was always to go young entering the offseason.
“I’m excited. I remember going back in ’18, remember we had just – Vontae (Davis) was gone, we had claimed Kenny Moore II the year before. We were really young in the secondary. I think deciding to go that way, we kind of made that decision after the season and, ‘Look we’re going to go young again.’ We ended up drafting three guys. We got some guys internally that we like.”
7
Drew Ogletree cleared
The second-year tight end is coming off a torn ACL, but Ballard said he has been cleared for practice even if the team will take it slow.
“Yes. He’s cleared. He’ll be a little limited early, and we’ll take care of him this first week coming off the ACL and first action really back but no, he’s good to go.”
8
On the Isaiah Rodgers Sr. situation
Ballard talked about learning of the gambling violations that got Isaiah Rodgers Sr. and Rashod Berry suspended.
“Disappointed. I had long talks with him and Rashod (Berry). They made bad choices, man. They made a bad choice. The league is pretty clear on, I know everybody tries to act like – no, they’re clear on what can and can’t be done. They broke the rules and they’re paying the price for it. I think they’ll learn a lesson from it, the guys that have been punished for it and it’s a shame but you learn some hard lessons and you move forward. It’s pretty clear to me – don’t bet. Don’t bet on football. Don’t bet on games, especially when you’re in the building. Be smart.”
9
Excited for Julian Blackmon
Blackmon is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is switching to the strong safety position. Ballard mentioned how impressive Blackmon was during the spring.
“He had a – knock on wood here now – had a great offseason. His attitude, just his temperament was incredible. There’s a little bit where, yes – but I think those positions are interchangeable. They’re going to both do some of the same duties as the other one will do. I think the label of strong safety yes, is it different for him, but look he handled it really well in the spring. I’d be anxious to see him out here this camp. I’d be surprised if Julian (Blackmon) didn’t have a really good year.”
