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What we learned from Colts OTAs: Young players make impression on coaching staff

INDIANAPOLIS — The headlines from the first Colts organized team activity were the health of Anthony Richardson’s right shoulder and Michael Pittman Jr.’s left knee.

Richardson’s arm looked strong, and he took all of the snaps a healthy starting quarterback would be expected to take. Pittman apparently avoided serious injury on a collision at the end of a route, according to Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen.

But there were other developments on display during the practice open to the media, the first chance for a lot of players to make an impression on the Indianapolis coaching staff, either because they are rookies or they spent the 2023 season rehabilitating an injury.

Latest on Colts TE Jelani Woods

Jelani Woods is the wild card in the tight end room.

Woods spent his entire sophomore season on the injured list due to recurring hamstring injuries, but Indianapolis used a third-round pick on him in 2022 because of the unique blend of size, speed and big-play ability Woods possesses, the sort of skill set Indianapolis did not have available at the position last year.

He’s healthy now.

Woods caught two intermediate throws from veteran backup Joe Flacco, working the seam and over the middle with his size. From the sounds of it, the Colts coaching staff is intrigued by the possibilities Woods presents for the offense.

“Finally getting to see him,” Steichen said. “I mean, I saw him a little bit in training camp, he got the injury, but to see how long he is and how he can run, vertical threat, different things you can do with him. It’s good to have him out there.”

Jaylon Carlies’ interception

When Steichen watches practice, he’s often watching through the eyes of a quarterback, mentally making the read and the decision along with his passer.

He would have tried the same throw Flacco attempted on Wednesday.

“I ain’t going to lie, I threw it right there, too,” Steichen said. “I was trying to lay it over the top of him.

Jaylon Carlies, the team’s fifth-round pick out of Missouri, was the “him” in question, lying underneath the route in a zone.

Flacco flipped the ball, Carlies leaped and stretched out his 6-3 frame, unfurling his 34-1/2 inch arms at the highest point.

The pass never had a chance. Carlies picked it off easily.

“I said ‘Holy smokes,’” Steichen said. “That was a hell of a play by him.”

Indianapolis is high on the potential of Carlies, a college safety the Colts are converting into a linebacker because of his 227-pound frame and natural physicality. The Colts defensive coaches believe linebackers coach Richard Smith can teach Carlies the more physical parts of the position, allowing Indianapolis to take advantage of his natural coverage ability, the kind that is essential to linebackers in the modern NFL.

“The athleticism, the explosiveness,” Steichen said. “A lot to learn, obviously, with any young player … but you can see his ability.”