Players were welcomed back to the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center on Monday for the start of Shane Steichen's first offseason workout program as Colts head coach, kicking off an important two-month stretch to solidify the bedrock of the 2023 season.
Between April 10 and June 15, the Colts will roll through three phases of the voluntary offseason workout program. Phase 1 runs for the next two weeks and will consist of strength and conditioning work plus meetings. Phase 2 goes for the next three weeks, with walkthrough-speed on-field workouts permitted (though no live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are allowed).
The final four weeks are Phase 3, which will consist of 10 OTA practices (between May 23-June 8) followed by a mandatory veteran minicamp (June 13-15). And because the Colts have a new head coach in Steichen, they're afforded an additional voluntary minicamp, which will be held April 24-26.
Steichen, offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter and the new Colts' coaching staff spent the last few weeks installing the terminology of Steichen's offense – how things are called, how things are communicated, stuff like that. Now they'll start passing on knowledge – and vibes – as players convene on 56th Street.
"I think you got to bring great energy into that building," Steichen said. "The players will feed off the coach's energy, that's where it starts. And we got to bring that energy into the meeting rooms, on the practice field, in the weight room, training room, all throughout the building just having great energy and feeding the positive energy and weeding out all the negative stuff."
Steichen's been through this process before as an offensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021, Nick Sirianni's first year as head coach there. The Eagles spent months installing and building their offense, then during the season pivoted to a scheme that best fit the talents of their quarterback – and turned a 2-5 start into an NFC wild card berth.
The point being: Flexibility throughout this process, from the start of the offseason program through the end of the 2023 season, is important.
"It doesn't happen overnight," Steichen said. "You gotta develop your players and really get to know them and go through that process in OTAs and training camp. And then you get into the season and really find out who you are through that process and really putting your guys in position to make plays is the biggest thing we gotta do as coaches."
And, yes, the Colts begin their 2023 offseason program without knowing who their Week 1 starting quarterback will be. Maybe it'll be Gardner Minshew, who signed in free agency last month, or Sam Ehlinger. Maybe it'll be a rookie selected in the NFL Draft in a few weeks. But not knowing the answer to that question yet won't hinder the work Steichen and the Colts will complete in the coming weeks.
"You fit the system around the guy that's playing," Steichen said. "As a coach you have to do that. You gotta do a great job of putting these guys in position to maximize their potential so they can shine on Sunday. That's our job as coaches to figure out what they do well and put them in position to make plays."
Players arrived at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center marking the start of the Colts' 2023 offseason workout program.
42 CB Marcel Dabo
13 WR Kristian Wilkerson
14 WR Alec Pierce
65 C Dakoda Shepley
84 WR Ethan Fernea
99 DT DeForest Buckner
46 LS Luke Rhodes
85 TE Drew Ogletree
37 RB Jake Funk
17 WR Mike Strachan
63 G Danny Pinter
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.
2 K Matt Gay, #3 K Lucas Havrisik
75 G Will Fries
2 K Matt Gay
41 LB Grant Stuard
86 WR Vyncint Smith
78 C Ryan Kelly
10 QB Gardner Minshew
23 CB Kenny Moore II
93 DT Eric Johnson, #44 LB Zaire Franklin
61 T Carter OÕDonnell
28 RB Jonathan Taylor,
94 DT/DE Tyquan Lewis
47 LB Forrest Rhyne
53 LB Shaquille Leonard, #8 P Rigoberto Sanchez
53 LB Shaquille Leonard, #8 P Rigoberto Sanchez
53 LB Shaquille Leonard, #8 P Rigoberto Sanchez
30 CB David Vereen
30 CB David Vereen
35 RB Deon Jackson
35 RB Deon Jackson
4 QB Sam Ehlinger
4 QB Sam Ehlinger
81 TE Mo Alie-Cox
81 TE Mo Alie-Cox
43 S Trevor Denbow, #48 TE Nikola Kalinic
48 TE Nikola Kalinic
57 LB JoJo Domann
16 WR Ashton Dulin
6 WR Isaiah McKenzie
38 CB Tony Brown
80 TE Jelani Woods
90 DT Grover Stewart
90 DT Grover Stewart
62 C Wesley French
96 DT Taven Bryan
21 RB Zack Moss
33 CB Dallis Flowers
79 T Bernhard Raimann
97 DT McTelvin Agim, #55 DE Khalid Kareem
97 DT McTelvin Agim, #55 DE Khalid Kareem
34 CB Isaiah Rodgers Sr
56 C/G Quenton Nelson
56 C/G Quenton Nelson
54 DE Dayo Odeyingbo
54 DE Dayo Odeyingbo
51 DE Kwity Paye, #92 DE Kameron Cline
51 DE Kwity Paye
83 TE Kylen Granson
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
14 WR Alec Pierce,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
97 DT McTelvin Agim,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
55 DE Khalid Kareem,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
55 DE Khalid Kareem,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
51 DE Kwity Paye, #92 DE Kameron Cline,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
46 LS Luke Rhodes,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
59 LB Cameron McGrone,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
52 LB Samson Ebukam
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
85 TE Drew Ogletree,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
17 WR Mike Strachan,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
41 LB Grant Stuard,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
10 QB Gardner Minshew
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
14 WR Alec Pierce,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
23 CB Kenny Moore II,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
RB Darrynton Evans
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
44 LB Zaire Franklin,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
94 DT/DE Tyquan Lewis,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
94 DT/DE Tyquan Lewis,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
53 LB Shaquille Leonard,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
35 RB Deon Jackson,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
65 C Dakoda Shepley
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
35 RB Deon Jackson,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
71 T Jordan Murray,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
81 TE Mo Alie-Cox,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
81 TE Mo Alie-Cox,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
43 S Trevor Denbow,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
48 TE Nikola Kalinic,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
48 TE Nikola Kalinic,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
57 LB JoJo Domann,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
57 LB JoJo Domann,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
57 LB JoJo Domann,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
16 WR Ashton Dulin,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
6 WR Isaiah McKenzie
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
84 WR Ethan Fernea,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
6 WR Isaiah McKenzie
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
36 S Henry Black,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
38 CB Tony Brown,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
90 DT Grover Stewart,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
90 DT Grover Stewart,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
21 WR Zack Moss,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
33 CB Dallis Flowers,
Players arrive for the first day of workouts.
79 T Bernhard Raimann,
Go inside the weight room on Monday as Colts players returned to the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center for the beginning of offseason workouts.
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the offseason.
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the offseason.
90 DT Grover Stewart,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the offseason.
41 LB Grant Stuard,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the offseason.
99 DT DeForest Buckner, #90 DT Grover Stewart,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the offseason.
90 DT Grover Stewart, Nate Ollie Defensive Line,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the offseason.
90 DT Grover Stewart,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
44 LB Zaire Franklin,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
41 LB Grant Stuard,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
52 LB Samson Ebukam,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
33 CB Dallis Flowers,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
33 CB Dallis Flowers, #42 S Marcel Dabo, #38 CB Tony Brown,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
33 CB Dallis Flowers, Richard Smith Linebackers/Run Game Coordinator,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
44 LB Zaire Franklin,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
94 DT/DE Tyquan Lewis,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
38 CB Tony Brown, #53 LB Shaquille Leonard,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
41 LB Grant Stuard,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
41 LB Grant Stuard,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
41 LB Grant Stuard,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
30 CB David Vereen,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
34 CB Isaiah Rodgers Sr., #38 CB Tony Brown,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
38 CB Tony Brown,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
59 LB Cameron McGrone,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
38 CB Tony Brown, #39 CB Darrell Baker Jr.,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
34 CB Isaiah Rodgers Sr.,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
39 CB Darrell Baker Jr.,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
Richard Smith Linebackers/Run Game Coordinator,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
25 CB Rodney Thomas II, #33 CB Dallis Flowers, #38 CB Tony Brown, #34 CB Isaiah Rodgers Sr.,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
25 CB Rodney Thomas II,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
41 LB Grant Stuard,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
94 DT/DE Tyquan Lewis,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
43 S Trevor Denbow,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
36 S Henry Black,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
94 DT/DE Tyquan Lewis,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
94 DT/DE Tyquan Lewis,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
23 CB Kenny Moore II,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
23 CB Kenny Moore II,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
Michael Blazejowski,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
90 DT Grover Stewart,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
94 DT/DE Tyquan Lewis,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
44 LB Zaire Franklin,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
83 TE Kylen Granson,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
99 DT DeForest Buckner, #44 LB Zaire Franklin,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
57 LB JoJo Domann, Leigh Hullett Team Dietician,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
79 T Bernhard Raimann,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
65 C Dakoda Shepley, #63 G Danny Pinter,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
37 RB Jake Funk,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
83 TE Kylen Granson,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
81 TE Mo Alie-Cox,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
10 QB Gardner Minshew,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
14 WR Alec Pierce,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
10 QB Gardner Minshew,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
79 T Bernhard Raimann,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
10 QB Gardner Minshew,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
14 WR Alec Pierce,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
10 QB Gardner Minshew,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
10 QB Gardner Minshew,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
81 TE Mo Alie-Cox,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
6 WR Isaiah McKenzie,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
10 QB Gardner Minshew,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
80 TE Jelani Woods, #71 T Jordan Murray, #65 C Dakoda Shepley,
Players workout in the weight room on the first day back from the off-season.
80 TE Jelani Woods,
Go inside the weight room at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center during day two of the 2023 offseason program.
Players train in the weight room.
51 DE Kwity Paye,
Players train in the weight room.
92 DE Kameron Cline,
Players train in the weight room.
51 DE Kwity Paye,
Players train in the weight room.
95 DT Chris Williams,
Players train in the weight room.
95 DT Chris Williams,
Players train in the weight room.
55 DE Khalid Kareem,
Players train in the weight room.
95 DT Chris Williams,
Players train in the weight room.
55 DE Khalid Kareem,
Players train in the weight room.
90 DT Grover Stewart,
Players train in the weight room.
51 DE Kwity Paye,
Players train in the weight room.
90 DT Grover Stewart, #99 DT DeForest Buckner,
Players train in the weight room.
90 DT Grover Stewart,
Players train in the weight room.
90 DT Grover Stewart,
Players train in the weight room.
51 DE Kwity Paye,
Players train in the weight room.
51 DE Kwity Paye,
Players train in the weight room.
74 DE Rashod Berry, #90 DT Grover Stewart, #99 DT DeForest Buckner,
Players train in the weight room.
