WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — With Colts training camp kicking off on Wednesday, the excitement could be felt for football season at Grand Park.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard talked with the media ahead of the start of training camp. Here are eight storylines from his press conference:
1. Anthony Richardson Sr. is ready to go for training camp
Richardson injured his shoulder during the offseason, causing him to miss the all of mini-camp. Colts head coach Shane Steichen said in June that Richardson felt some aggravation in his AC joint, the same one that he sprained in 2023, cutting his rookie season short.
On Tuesday, Ballard confirmed that Richardson is back and ready to go for the start of training camp.
“Anthony is good to go,” Ballard said. “He’s been throwing for about three weeks now. He’s really upped his volume. First couple weeks, we’ll probably limit some volume, but no real restrictions other than volume restrictions.”
Richardson is entering his third year with the Colts, and this training camp he will have competition for the starting quarterback position.
As for whether this is a make-or-break year for Richardson, Ballard shook his head no.
“Sometimes you got to have a little patience with a guy and let them grow through things… If you think, hey, he’s on the right trajectory, why are you going to flush him just because people outside think you should flush him?” Ballard said. “I don’t agree with that.”
2. Ballard speaks highly of Daniel Jones
Richardson’s competition at the quarterback position will be Daniel Jones, who the Colts signed in free agency.
“Good dude,” Ballad said. “Really good guy. Centered. He’s been through a lot.”
Jones played six seasons with the New York Giants. In 2024, he threw for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while completing 64.5% of his passes.
“Daniel’s a very talented player, so it’ll be a fun competition to watch between these two guys,” Ballard said. “They’re both very talented.”
As for the competition itself, Ballard does not have a timetable for the decision.
“I think when Shane (Steichen) and the staff and I and our staff feels like there’s a sure starter, then we’ll move forward with that,” Ballard said. “Timeline? I can’t put one on it.”
3. Ballard on the frustrations of missing the playoffs four straight years
The Colts enter the 2025 season having missed the playoffs in four straight seasons. It’s the longest streak the franchise has had since the 1990s.
“It’s a bothersome thing, especially with the expectations we have here in Indy,” Ballard said.
“At the end of the day, we have to finish the seasons better, because we’ve had some really good football teams that just haven’t got it done,” Ballard said.
4. Training camp is going to look different this season
Ballard mentioned the need to finish seasons better. The Colts have also not started seasons well. They have not won a Week 1 game since 2013.
Ballard and Steichen have decided to make some tweaks to training camp to try to change that trend.
“This will be a pretty physical training camp, and Shane and I have had long talks about that,” Steichen said. “Toughness still wins.”
“I think to be physical, you have to practice physical,” Ballard added.
5. Ballard remembers Jim Irsay during opening statement
Ballard spent time at the beginning of his press conference to talk about longtime Colts owner Jim Irsay, who passed away in May. Irsay spent 53 years with the Colts and became the sole owner in 1997.
“He had as giving of a soul as anybody I’d ever been around,” Ballard said. “I feel very fortunate to have worked for him and he hired me and I’m always grateful. Extremely grateful.”
Ballard said he cares deeply about Irsay, and it’s going to be a big loss.
6. Ballard gives Irsay daughters high praise
Irsay’s three daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson, replaced him as the owners of the Colts.
“He passed on to his daughters that same sense of community, to cherish the history of the game, and to carry that forward,” Ballard said. “And I think all three of them are going to be outstanding. I do. I’ve been around them all a bunch.”
7. Ballard is confident in the competition the Colts have within their roster
Ballard was aggressive in free agency this offseason, signing safety Camryn Bynum, cornerback Charvarius Ward, Jones, and more.
“We were more aggressive at the onset of free agency and I think that the players we signed are going to really help us and be good Colts,” Ballard said.
He also set out to create more competition within the Colts roster. He mentioned offensive line battles, as well as the competition between Jaylon Jones, JuJu Brents, and Justin Walley at the cornerback position.
“I think we’ve got good competition across the board,” Ballard said.
8. Ballard on improving the defense
The Colts were 29th in yards allowed and 24th in points allowed in 2024.
“All of us have our name on it,” Ballard said. “Me, coaches, players, everybody has their name on it.”
He added they have to be a better tackling defense and he hopes that they added the right pieces in the offseason to make improvements.
The Colts get on the field for the first time during training camp on Wednesday, with practice starting at 10 a.m.
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