INDIANAPOLIS --- The preseason is over for the Colts after a 9-6 loss Thursday night to the Bengals, with some notable developments as the regular season approaches.
Stanford rookies (and college roommates) Henry Anderson and David Parry saw more snaps together, after Chuck Pagano said Art Jones will need surgery on his ankle. Owner and CEO Jim Irsay also said Jones will be out "for a while" during the TV broadcast.
"We're not going to come in this first year just look to sit on the bench and watch the other guys play," said Anderson after the game. "We came in and wanted to provide immediate help to this defense, help improve the unit, and go out there and execute as difference makers."
"I think there's similarities out there," said Parry after the game, about whether the familiarity playing next to Anderson is carrying over from Stanford. "I know his tendencies a little bit. It's easier to work off him in some pass rush games, knowing what he's going to do, knowing how he plays. There's definitely an advantage with the comfort level we have out there."
With Parry squarely in a starting competition and Jones injured, Anderson and Parry could be reunited week 1 as starters on the defensive line, with veteran Kendall Langford.
2. Duron Carter looked more like the receiver we saw at training camp, finishing with his best preseason game yet, hauling in 5 receptions for 85 yards.
"Definitely just feeling a lot more comfortable out there with the whole offense, getting to the right spots and being at the right depth" said Carter. "That allowed me to get open a few times."
Carter had said going into the 3rd preseason game that he needed to play less robotic and stop thinking so much, after not matching his practice production from Anderson. He did that Thursday night.
"Pretty please, I should have had that touchdown down there," said Carter, when asked how he felt about his game Thursday night. "I can't complain, really. (Bryan) Bennett found me with some good passes."
Carter said he wants to keep becoming a professional. He noted observing Andre Johnson still taking notes like a rookie, so why wouldn't he do that as well? It's a deep corp, and Carter only makes it deeper for the Colts.
3. ILB Nate Irvin made his Colts debut, coming back from a torn ACL he tore with the Broncos last year.
"Yes, it was," said Irving, when asked if it was important to get some action in the preseason. "I didn't want to be out in the first game and have what happened today happen in the first game. When I went out there today, I almost had an anxiety attack. I couldn't breath. I couldn't remember anything. It was just run to the ball for the first few plays."
In other words, Irving felt like a rookie. Irving said by the time next Sunday comes around, he'll be ready to play at Buffalo, but first there's some things he still needs to work out in practice first to get to that point to perform how his coaches want him to perform.
Irving is important depth at ILB behind Jerrell Freeman and D'Qwell Jackson, at a position where depth was a concern throughout the preseason before his debut.
