WESTFIELD, Ind – The first day of training camp feels almost like the first day of school.

DeForest Buckner could barely sleep the night before camp because of how excited he was. Ryan Kelly, while sad to have to leave his one-year-old twins, was pumped to get back to seeing his teammates every day for his ninth season in the NFL. Zaire Franklin was tired of doing drills with cones and watching workout videos and Laiatu Latu was just ready to get back out on a football field.

The Colts were ready for their first day back at work.

"Everybody loves work, right?" Michael Pittman Jr. said with a smile.

Player report day at Grand Park for Colts training camp was full of smiles and high spirits, and for good reason. Everyone was back together and a highly-anticipated season was just around the corner. But, of course, they first have to put in the work in 12 training camp practices. And that itself provides a crucial time for players to get in the right mindset and pinpoint what they want to accomplish.

Some of them, like Kenny Moore II, come in with a broader approach. Rather than focusing on certain statistics, he just wants to keep getting better and not take anything for granted as he enters his eighth year with the Colts.

"I view it as a blessing to still be here, to still do what I love, to still live a dream every day, honestly," the cornerback said during a press conference Wednesday. "And I'm looking forward to growing."

Moore recognized training camp as the most important part of the season, as it's a time where everyone can focus on growth. From continuing to build chemistry among the Colts veterans – of which there are many – to the rookies just starting to get a feel for the NFL, camp is a chance for individual and team improvements on and off the field.

Buckner sees it similarly. The two-time AP All-Pro defensive tackle, entering his fifth year with the Colts and ninth in the NFL, is cherishing every moment he is on the field. But that doesn't mean he's not also thinking about all he still wants to accomplish: winning and building his legacy.

"Getting to the playoffs and having a shot at getting a ring," Buckner said. "I feel like we have the guys in the room, the coaching staff, I feel like we have the team to do it."

Same goes for Franklin.

"(We're chasing) them wins, bro," the linebacker, just named No. 100 on NFL Network's Top 100 Players of 2024, said.

That was the overarching mood among the players Wednesday morning: confidence. There was a sense of calm in the air, but anticipation dripped off every word they said. It all seemed to come courtesy of one person, who just so happened to be on Taylor's shirt.

Who else but Anthony Richardson?

Richardson's return marks the first time the Colts have had the same starting quarterback in consecutive seasons since 2016, and everyone is benefitting from it.

"It feels very different," Taylor said. "It's almost like there's a whole new element now, it's like you're not just worried about what I'm doing, it's like you better worry about this guy because he's going to kill you."

Taylor and Richardson only combined in the backfield for two snaps last season before Richardson's injury, but his successful rehabilitation process and offseason work instilled a tremendous amount of belief in his teammates. And thanks to an offseason workout in California arranged by Pittman, the chemistry between Richardson and his receiving corps has only gotten stronger.

"Every time I've seen him this offseason, he looks great," Pittman said. "He's in good shape, he's throwing well, he's all healed up."

It's not just the offense that has faith in Richardson, though. The entire team is ready to fight alongside their QB1.

"His ceiling is through the roof," Buckner said. "The Lord blessed him with so many talents, I mean, he's gifted, you know, physically and everything. It's just the mental part of his game that he's going to have to continue to build and work on and he's lucky to have a coach like Shane (Steichen) who's got a great mind for the game and can help him develop into the quarterback that everybody sees him becoming."