WESTFIELD, Ind. – As Colts Owner and CEO Jim Irsay finished up answering a question about Anthony Richardson, rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell's helmet tumbled toward his golf cart. It came to a rest a few feet of green grass shy of where Irsay was holding court with the media during Sunday's training camp practice at Grand Park.
Then the deafening cheers came.
Mitchell had just made one of the most spectacular plays of training camp – a twisting, falling snag of a deep ball in a one-on-one drill – and was encouraging the crowd to roar as loud as possible. Irsay paused his thought and glanced over, then returned to his answer about Richardson while explaining why he – like the fans in the stands – was so excited for this version of the Colts.
"That is our goal, to win the division," Irsay said later. "I really think, to me, it's the best team we've fielded in a while."
The Colts haven't won the AFC South since 2014, but the organization's top-down optimism – general manager Chris Ballard said last week he expects the Colts to be "in the mix" this year – begins with the potential possessed by Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. In the four-game glimpse Richardson had as a rookie, Irsay and the Colts saw not only a dynamic playmaker behind center, but an intelligent quarterback with a good natural feel for the position.
Richardson's season ended in Week 5 with a shoulder injury, but Irsay does not believe the 22-year-old needs to change how he plays.
"I think his style is great," Irsay said. "And we're just really looking forward to him having a great year and throwing and running, certainly more throwing than running. Shane (Steichen) talks to him about protecting himself but only to some degree. You gotta play the game and it's a physical game. But one of the reasons we drafted him is because of his size and strength and his durability — I think it was just an unusual situation that the injury occurred."
Another reason for Irsay's excitement is the untapped upside the pairing of Richardson and running back Jonathan Taylor could deliver a Colts offense that was 10th in points scored last year despite those two being on the field for all of two plays.
"It's the speed that they bring and that's something that's really exciting," Irsay said. "We know what Jonathan can do, and both of them together can be a really dangerous combination from a big play standpoint.
"... In some ways I really think the team's improved just by the nature of them being ready to go. It's exciting, and I think those guys have a chance, really, to be a combination that's lethal. Speed is critical in this league and it's dangerous. And those guys both bring it. It's gonna be exciting to see for our fans, I know."
And maybe the next time Irsay has a thought drowned out by cheers, it'll be because Mitchell – or Richardson, or Taylor, or Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, etc. – made a spectacular play not during a practice at Grand Park, but during a game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
After all, the 2024 season starts in just six weeks.
"Just couldn't be more excited," Irsay said. "I think we have a great opportunity to have an excellent year."
