The Indianapolis Colts got on the field as a unit for the first time this offseason as organized team activities got underway Tuesday.
Though there is no contact or pads being worn at this time, there are still plenty of notes to keep an eye on as the spring practices progress. Most of it should be taken with a grain of salt as is the case every spring, but there are storylines monitor.
Here are five notes from Colts’ OTA practice No. 1:
Andrew Luck, others sat due to injuries
Luck is dealing with a minor calf strain. It shouldn’t be considered serious, and the Colts are taking every ailment, big or small, very seriously. They don’t want to take any chances with injuries at this point and jeopardize availability for training camp.
While Luck was dealing with a calf strain, linebacker Darius Leonard was seen in a boot following the ankle surgery he had this offseason. He’s expected to miss OTAs and minicamp but should be ready for training camp. Tight ends Jack Doyle (hip) and Eric Ebron (groin) also weren’t working as they deal with their respective injuries.
There isn’t going to be an injury report for practices like there is during the season so they will be some players not participating without it being reported. As of now, the Colts are taking each injury very cautiously regardless of what the timetable is.
QBs struggled
Knocking the rust off is a big part of the spring workouts. Being on the field for the first time with a defense lined up across from them, the quarterback group, sans Andrew Luck, seemed to struggle.
The group consists of Jacoby Brissett, Phillip Walker and the newly-signed Chad Kelly. It wasn’t made clear who threw them, but the defense recorded four interceptions on the day. Cornerbacks Rock Ya-Sin and Shakai Taylor and safety Rolan Milligan all reportedly grabbed picks against the Colts offense. Linebacker Skai Moore also got in on action.
The Colts quarterback room will likely shake it off to bounce back, but they didn’t start OTAs on a high note.
Mo Alie-Cox getting a golden opportunity
The Colts tight end room is down its top two starters likely for the rest of the spring until training camp gets underway. This makes Alie-Cox the de-facto TE1 in the room, and he’s already shown improvement over his first season of playing time.
Head coach Frank Reich noted sharper route running on the first day of OTAs from Alie-Cox. The former VCU basketball standout made his way into a role as a blocker during the 2018 season but also showed he has plenty of promise as a receiver given his large frame and massive hands.
Once everyone is healthy in the room, Alie-Cox will likely hold a reserve role, but that role could get bigger if he continues to show development as a route runner. This is especially true with how often the Colts like to use three-tight end sets.
Devin Funchess showing prowess on 50/50 balls
The wide receivers should be getting plenty of work this spring as there is expected to be relatively heavy competition for roles in the room behind T.Y. Hilton. One player looking to grab a starting role is Funchess, who joined the Colts on a one-year deal.
Given his large frame and athleticism, Funchess should be a player the Colts like to use on the boundary — and even some in the slot — while working contested catches. Funchess showed off some of that ability on Tuesday on some 50/50 balls.
Funchess is a solid route runner for his size. He has a chance to carve out a starting role in the wide receiver room if he can continue with a strong spring. His size and athleticism give him some high upside in the touchdown department.
Parris Campbell taking reps as return man
The Colts have a lot of optimism regarding the fit of Campbell in the offensive scheme, but they are also hoping to utilize his speed as a return man on punts.
With the type of open-field speed and elusiveness Campbell has, the rookie will likely compete with Chester Rogers, among others, for a role on special teams as a return man. Whether the Colts wind up using the Ohio State product in that role remains to be seen, but they are going to see if he can make that type of transition.
The Colts didn’t get a whole lot out of their punt return team in 2018, but having a rookie that runs a 4.31 in the 40-yard dash could help improve the unit.
