Daniel Jones perfect in first joint training camp practice against Falcons
· Yahoo Sports
WESTFIELD — Daniel Jones spent most of Wednesday’s joint practice against Atlanta without three of his top four targets at his disposal.
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Alec Pierce is still on his way back, newly-signed veteran Keenan Allen did not practice in his first day in a Colts uniform and star tight end Tyler Warren left early in practice due to a groin injury.
For the most part, none of that mattered.
Jones completed all 15 throws in Wednesday’s practice, a rare perfect performance in a lengthy training-camp setting. He did throw one pass that was broken up at the end of the session, but the referees flagged Atlanta safety Jessie Bates for pass interference, nullifying the play.
With so many top targets out, Jones completed four passes to Josh Downs, including a long gain over the middle to end practice and a 65-yard touchdown on a throw that Atlanta linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. tipped into the hands of Downs on the run.
But Downs wasn’t the only receiver who had a nice day. Veteran Ashton Dulin caught four passes, including a pair of tough slants over the middle that kept the chains moving. Two completions to Jonathan Taylor, two to Seth McGowan, two to Mo Alie-Cox and one to Will Mallory rounded out the day. Alie-Cox appeared to lose the ball after a catch-and-run in the final period, prompting a huge cheer from Atlanta.
Engine stalled
Atlanta’s defensive line, led by former Colts assistant Nate Ollie, plays a fast, penetrating style predicated on getting a good jump off the ball.
The Falcons were so eager to get into the backfield that they were flagged three times for jumping offsides.
Early in Wednesday’s session, the interior of the Indianapolis offensive line had trouble handling the pressure. Taylor’s first run was blown up by Atlanta defensive tackle Maason Smith, Ulysses Bentley IV was hit in the backfield by Falcons defensive tackle Carlos Allen, Taylor got hit in the backfield by two defensive tackles on another play, James Pearce hit Bentley for a tackle-for-loss and a designed quarterback run to Anthony Richardson ended in the arms of Perkins.
The Indianapolis running game did settle down and start producing as the practice continued, but Atlanta did an excellent job of forcing the action at the line of scrimmage.
Backup battle
Riley Leonard was given more snaps on the first day of joint practices, an arrangement that head coach Shane Steichen indicated would flip in the second session Thursday.
Leonard completed 8 of 11 throws, but he struggled to move the ball in the final two-minute period, completing mostly short passes.
Anthony Richardson completed 3 of 3 throws in 11-on-11, including a nice in-cut to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for roughly 12 yards and a long throw to tight end Mallory for an explosive play over the middle.
Kicking competition
Blake Grupe was given one more field goal opportunity than Spencer Shrader.
Grupe, who has been far more consistent in practices, made all five kicks. Grupe hit from 28, 33, 40, 47 and 54 to push his training-camp total to 38 of 41 on field goals in practice. Shrader, who is coming off a torn ACL and MCL that prematurely ended his 2025 season, made kicks from 33, 40 and 48, but he pulled his attempt left from 54, a recurring problem in training camp.
Roll call
Warren’s injury allowed him to return to the practice field.
The Colts’ star tight end went down on a route early in practice, stayed there for a moment and then headed gingerly to the training staff. Warren initially left practice with a member of the training staff to be examined in the injury tent, but he returned a bit later and watched practice with a wrap on his right thigh.
Running back DJ Giddens was also forced to sit out practice. Giddens, who has missed the last two weeks with a hamstring injury, initially warmed up with the team as if he was returning to action, but he found a trainer after positional drills and grabbed at the back of his right hamstring. Giddens also watched from the sideline.
Veteran cornerback Charvarius Ward (back), wide receiver Anthony Gould (groin), offensive tackle Luke Tenuta (knee) and offensive tackle Nolan Rucci (lower leg) all sat out practice.
Allen watched from the side, along with Pierce, who remains on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list as he recovers from offseason ankle surgery.
Quick hitters
Colts left tackle Bernhard Raimann swallowed former teammate Samson Ebukam on back-to-back rushes in 1-on-1 drills. The second time, Raimann caught Ebukam in mid-spin move, refusing to let the veteran defensive end finish the maneuver. … Falcons interior rushers Maason Smith and Chris Williams blew past Colts left guard Quenton Nelson and center Tanor Bortolini on back-to-back plays in 1-on-1’s. … Laquon Treadwell opened 1-on-1’s for the wide receivers by blowing past Mike Hughes for a deep ball.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Daniel Jones perfect in first joint training camp practice against Falcons