Colts camp observations: Unheralded CB makes plays, LBs hit hard, Richardson sits

WESTFIELD — The Colts cornerback room remains remarkably young and inexperienced beyond the steady play of veteran Kenny Moore II, and two of the rookies expected to compete for playing time, JuJu Brents and Darius Rush, have been unable to practice because of injury early in training camp.

A little-known undrafted free agent Indianapolis picked up from Arizona early in the season last year is trying to take advantage of the extra snaps.

Offered a chance to play with the starters consistently, Darrell Baker Jr. made two nice plays on Monday, attacking and breaking up short routes to Alec Pierce and Michael Pittman Jr. during the team’s 7-on-7 period of practice.

Baker Jr. started turning heads on the practice squad last season, and he played 14 snaps on special teams in the team’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings after being activated late in the year. When Indianapolis general manager Chris Ballard decided to go young at the cornerback position this offseason, it opened opportunities for a lot of players, and Baker Jr. is trying to take advantage.

“D.J.’s done an excellent job,” Colts defensive backs coach Ron Milus said. “He’s come a long way from a guy that, I didn’t really know who he was. … Right now, he’s playing with our 1s at times, him and Tony Brown. With what we’ve got going on with injuries, it’ll kind of go back and forth between them.”

Brown is also Moore II’s backup in the nickel.

Baker’s shaping up to be one of the surprises with a chance to make the roster.

“Darrell’s got really good speed, and really good cover skills,” Colts head coach Shane Steichen said. “We’re excited about where he’s at.”

Richardson restless

Rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson couldn’t practice on Monday.

The rookie Colts quarterback underwent a procedure to fix his nasal septum, an injury that’s unclear when it occurred. Steichen offered few details on the genesis of Richardson’s procedure.

“It was just something he had to get done in there,” Steichen said. “Just so he could breathe better. We didn’t want him to come in and not start camp, so let’s let him get through the camp and do it on an off day.”

Richardson had trouble staying out of practice entirely, though. The rookie quarterback went through stretches with the rest of the team, and he handed off to the running backs in positional drills before taking a spot behind the offense, right next to quarterbacks coach Cam Turner.

“He was definitely in tune out there at practice, going through his reads in the back,” Steichen said. “It’s not a big concern at all. Should be out there tomorrow, and worse-case scenario, he’ll be out there the next day.”

Linebackers laying the wood

The Colts put pads on Monday for the first time in training camp, and even though Shaquille Leonard was held out of 11-on-11 work — part of the team’s plan to ease the All-Pro linebacker back to full contact — the Indianapolis linebackers made their presence felt early and often.

Veteran Zaire Franklin lit up running back Zack Moss on the third play of the practice, added another big hit in 7-on-7 and set the tone for a linebacking group that made its presence felt.

E.J. Speed made three plays in four snaps during one 11-on-11 period, including a hard hit on Moss, and ended his day by delivering another hard shot to running back Deon Jackson. Segun Olubi smacked tight end Will Mallory on the sidelines on the rookie’s first catch of camp, then came free on a blitz to “sack” Sam Ehlinger on the final series — defenders can’t actually hit the quarterbacks during training camp.

Fellow linebackers Grant Stuard and JoJo Domann appeared to combine for another sack of Ehlinger early in the practice.

More: Colts RB Zack Moss will likely miss six weeks with broken arm

Injury report

Moss will likely miss six weeks after suffering a broken arm during Monday’s practice.

An injury also forced second-year tight end Jelani Woods to stop practicing early, although Woods did not leave the field. Woods was seen stretching and being examined by trainers early in the practice, wore a wrap on his left leg later and did not return to action.

“I think he’s got a little hamstring,” Steichen said. “I’ve got to get more details on it.”

Rookie tackle Jake Witt (hip) has missed the last two days of practice, joining a list of injured players that includes Brents (hamstring), Rush (shoulder), strong safety Julian Blackmon (hamstring) and defensive end Samson Ebukam (hamstring).

Running back Jonathan Taylor and defensive end Tyquan Lewis (knee) remain on the active/physically unable to perform list, but the Colts got Mallory back from an offseason foot injury, and the fifth-round pick caught a pass in 11-on-11 work.

“Getting him off PUP and getting him some reps, especially individual reps, it’s been good to see him out there,” Steichen said.

Quick hitters

Gardner Minshew completed 6 of 7 passes Monday, hitting Moss three times before the injury, Pittman Jr., Deon Jackson and Drew Ogletree. … Wide receivers coach and resident legend Reggie Wayne took a tumble in positional drills, getting knocked on his back while holding a blocking pad, prompting a laugh from the crowd. Wayne took it good-naturedly, then jokingly threw down the pad at the end of the drill. … A couple of kids kept screaming “hit the Griddy” at Jackson after one long run during practice, and the third-year back eventually obliged, doing a step or two of the popular dance before sprinting back to the huddle. … Kickers Matt Gay and Lucas Havrisik traded field goals for the first time in an official practice, the veteran making all five of his attempts and Havrisik making four.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts camp: Unheralded CB makes plays, LBs hit hard, Richardson sits