The Indianapolis Colts wrap up the second week of organized team activities Friday, which means there are only four sessions and a three-day mandatory minicamp remaining until the team breaks for summer.
There was a bit more action from the second week of OTAs for the Colts. Some players are beginning to make their presence known with some solid performances in the spring, which could bode well when training camp comes around.
Here are six takeaways from the second week of OTAs for the Colts:
Deon Cain making progress in ACL rehab
The Colts’ sixth-round pick in the 2018 draft, Cain wound up missing his entire rookie season after suffering a torn ACL in the preseason opener against the Seattle Seahawks. He still isn’t participating in team drills, but he’s certainly making progress.
Cain told reporters Wednesday following OTA practice No. 4 that he’s running, cutting and even running routes. That’s a very encouraging sign for the expectation that he will be ready for training camp.
There is going to be heavy competition in the wide receiver room and once Cain is back on the field participating in team drills, it will become even more heated.
Ben Banogu working at DE
The Colts drafted Banogu in the second round to work mostly at SAM linebacker while kicking to the edge on pass-rushing downs, but it appears he’s been getting the bulk of the work at defensive end throughout the first two weeks of OTAs.
Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan noted the Colts have kept Banogu at defensive end and that the true 4-3 front has yet to be seen on the field.
“For a second straight week, rookie Ben Banogu worked as a defensive end, and not at linebacker. This will be something to watch the rest of the spring…FWIW, we have still yet to see the Colts defense play several reps in a normal 4-3 base defense, with 3 linebackers on the field. Bobby Okereke is taking the second-team reps at MIKE linebacker.”
It is difficult to guage linebacker production without pads on, but this is at least a storyline to monitor during training camp.
Rock Ya-Sin is flashing his ball skills
Throughout the first two weeks of the spring workouts, Ya-Sin might be the rookie that is turning heads the most. Though he isn’t seeing much time on the first-team defense, he is producing when he’s getting on the field.
The Temple product has already recorded four interceptions through the first two weeks of spring practices when the Colts are doing team drills. He’s also working on refining his technique, an area head coach Frank Reich is seeing some encouragement.
“He’s a high character guy. He understands the techniques that we are asking him to play. You can see him progressing,” Reich said Wednesday. “Like I felt the first week he was a little bit more handsy, a little bit more grabby and as time has gone on you can see the confidence coming with the way he is playing the technique.”
Ya-Sin still has some development to undergo, but he’s making his presence known early at OTAs.
Parris Campbell, Chester Rogers leading punt return unit
Whoever is returning punts isn’t huge news during OTAs, but it is worth keeping an eye on as the months progress and the season approaches. The Colts didn’t have an impactful return man during the 2018 season, but they are looking for improvement in that area.
Those leading the charge are rookie wide receiver Parris Campbell, who was selected in the second round of the draft, and fellow wide receiver Chester Rogers, who enters his fourth season since joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2016.
Campbell and Rogers are likely to be leading the charge while running back Nyheim Hines is likely to sprinkle in some reps as well.
Rookies working mostly with second team
Despite the majority of positions dealing with some type of injury, the Colts don’t have many of their rookies working with the first-team units on either side of the ball.
The aforementioned Campbell as seen a few reps with the first team offense while sixth-round pick E.J. Speed as seen some work with the first-team defense in the absence of Darius Leonard (ankle). Outside of that, there doesn’t appear to be many rookies working with the starters, per Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan.
“When the Colts divide up into their starters on one field and their reserves on the other field, in 11-on-11 sessions, the rookies are almost exclusively with the reserves. On Wednesday, we did see occasional first-team work for Parris Campbell (in very specific designed plays to allow Campbell to touch the football) and EJ Speed, with the injuries at linebacker.”
This will certainly be something to watch for as the Colts enter training camp this summer.
Andrew Luck still dealing with a calf strain
The face of the franchise hasn’t been able to get on the field yet during the first two weeks of OTAs, and it remains to be seen if he will during the third and final week. It should be noted, head coach Frank Reich anticipates seeing the signal caller on the field before the spring ends.
“I would anticipate so but again, I personally have had that same issue. If you don’t let it heal right – if you let it heal then it’s fine,” Reich said Wednesday. “But if you start rushing it back and if you start feeling it, it’s better to honor it. That’s what we are doing and just playing it safe.”
The injury isn’t considered to be serious, and the Colts are simply taking extreme precaution to avoid any injury down the road. Regardless, it has led to Luck missing the first two weeks of OTAs. He has two more weeks to get back on the field.
