INDIANAPOLIS – The Colts are in their final week of Training Camp.
After two practice days this week, the team will have their preseason finale on Thursday night before all attention turns to the regular season
Here are three takeaways from Monday's practice/media sessions:
ROSTER MOVES
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On Monday morning, the Colts waived CB-Johnny Adams, CB-Qua Cox, G-Andre Cureton, G-Marcus Hall, CB-Kameron Jackson, WR-Nu'Keese Richardson, LB-Jonathon Sharpe, S-David Sims, WR-Eric Thomas, WR-Tony Washington and FB-Cameron White.
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MONDAY TAKEAWAYS
- The first round of cuts for the Colts came early on Monday morning. As of this article being published, the Colts roster sits at 79 players, four players short of the team-mandated 75 number. The Colts must be at 75 players by Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. EST.
The temporary lockers inside the Colts locker room had a few cleaned out spaces on Monday afternoon. For those left, it's a visible reality that another 26 lockers will be cleaned out by the time final cuts come on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. EST.
- Just like Chuck Pagano said following the game on Saturday night, the Colts are doing okay on the injury front. Darius Butler did not practice on Monday with an ankle injury and Jonotthan Harrison sat out with a thumb injury. Neither are thought to be serious.
The good news on the injury front is Jerrell Freeman continues to practice (still with a red jersey). Jack Mewhort was back practicing. Both Harrison and Khaled Holmes did some snapping in the early part of practice but did not fully participate. Also, Josh McNary, an intriguing name at the inside linebacker position, practiced for the first time in about a month.
- As the Colts head into their preseason finale, no player has had a more impressive past month then Daniel "Boom" Herron. He was a bit of a forgotten man in the running back group heading into Anderson but that all changed once Vick Ballard went down.
Herron is the team's leading rusher (18 carries for 104 yards) and has the most receptions (10) in the preseason. He will certainly play a major role on special teams and is solidifying the Colts third running back spot. Just look at the last two seasons to see how important the "third" back on the Colts opening day roster became by the end of the season.
INJURY REPORT
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The following players were not seen, or did not appear to be participating, during the media portion of Monday's practice: Darius Butler (ankle) Khaled Holmes (ankle), Jonotthan Harrison (thumb), Xavier Nixon (knee), Ulrick John (leg, was on crutches last week), Delano Howell (neck) and Montori Hughes
PAGANO QUOTEWORTHY
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Chuck Pagano on the Colts running game:
"Well I don't think it's where we want it. I think we're headed in the right direction. When you look at the stat sheet, some guys gained some yards late in the game and our rush average was good, our totals were good. You'd love to have that at the end of every game, but we're still working at it. We've had some lineup changes obviously in the offensive line, which we went through a whole season last year with that. From a continuity standpoint, getting those guys together, you've got Dwayne (Allen) back, we're still working at it and it's going to be a work in progress the whole season. All we want to do is be better tomorrow than we were today, and the next game, and the next game, and the next game."
PLAYER QUOTE OF THE DAY
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Andrew Luck on the final week of preseason:
"You don't have any do-overs. Thankfully, it is preseason. You get a chance to come out here and get some good practice in some good hot, humid, muggy weather. Get a good sweat and get your blood going again. I think it's really important as a team. We had a great practice today. We've got to have another great practice tomorrow leading up to Cincy, make these count because they're running out."
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PLAYER TWEET OF THE DAY
@JDOGG82 Are you holding another press conference tomorrow? pic.twitter.com/ThtTZOz6zi — Matthew Hasselbeck (@Hasselbeck) August 25, 2014
YESTERDAY'S TRIVIA QUIZ
Chuck Pagano's 22 regular-season wins over his first 32 games with the Colts stand among the best totals in franchise history. Two coaches tied with him won world titles with the Colts, while only three exceeded Pagano's 22-win total over their first 32 games. Name the three who earned more wins in that span and the two who are tied with him.
ANSWER: Tony Dungy was 22-10 and Don McCafferty was 22-9-1, while Ted Marchibroda was 25-7, Jim Caldwell was 24-8 and Don Shula was 23-9.
CAMP SCHEDULE
The Colts will practice on Monday and Tuesday before their preseason finale in Cincinnati on Thursday night. Tuesday's practice will mark the end of the 2014 Training Camp part of the offseason.
