Fans of the Indianapolis Colts were left with a sour taste in their mouth during the team's minicamp due to QB Anthony Richardson having to sit out of the last practice with shoulder soreness.
However, general manager Chris Ballard gave an update that should help calm any remaining nerves surrounding the status of the team's starting QB for their upcoming Training Camp.
Chris Ballard confirms Anthony Richardson will be full-go heading into training camp.
— Colts Film Room (@ColtsFilmRoom) June 25, 2024
🎥: @GM_ReShuffle pic.twitter.com/kDdiQdbj8N
Ballard was a guest on DraftKings' "The GM Shuffle" show with Michael Lombardi and Femi Abebefe, where, as well as speaking on the health status of Richardson, he shared his thoughts on last season, the Colts process in free agency, and the NFL Draft, and more. Here are some of the most interesting answers that I heard Ballard give during his interview.
The Week 18 loss to the Houston Texans
The Colts were just one win away from winning the AFC South and punching their ticket to the playoffs last season. And to be honest, they were one play away with a poor throw and drop, leading to a failed 4th down conversion that cost them the game. Ballard spoke about that Week 18 loss on the GM Schuffle, and here is what he had to say.
"It was a heck of a football game, and I thought both teams were playing really good football. I thought whoever won that game was going to be able to make some noise in the playoffs. We gave up an explosive in the first play of the game. CJ (Stroud) made a hell of a throw on a deep ball; we should have had the kid doubled, and they made a play. After that we played really great defense throughout the game. You gotta commend Stroud; he played tremendous, he made star player plays, he made the unique plays that very few people had, and we didn't."
- Colts GM Chris Ballard on the Week 18 loss to the Texans
Why the Colts focused on re-signing their own free agents
The Colts only signed two outside free agents this offseason. Their main focus was retaining their own, and they succeeded. Ballard shared why the Colts focused so heavily on re-signing their own guys as opposed to bringing in new faces.
"But the guys we decided to re-sign when you started matching and looking at the market in comparison we didn't see there was enough of a difference for us to not go with the guys we know. And look, I know a lot of times people want change. They see the shiny car on the other side. But a lot of times, the players, you know, you know the players, they are the type of teammates they are, you know, the type of work they will put in. That type of continuity, especially during the second half of the season, will bode well for us this year."
- Colts GM Chris Ballard on focusing on re-signing their own free agents
Thoughts on the crazy 1st round of the 2024 NFL Draft
The Colts saw six QBs and no defensive players drafted ahead of them at pick 15 in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. And Ballard was as shocked as anyone that this was the reality of their situation. He spoke on what was going through his mind seeing it live.
"At the end of the day, you have all these people that are trying to guess what's going to happen. No one knows, and if they said they do, they are lying. So you prepare and hope for the best in any draft. And you need a little luck. I don't care what anyone says; you have to get a little lucky, and we felt like we got a little lucky (by drafting Laiatu Latu)."
- Ballard thoughts on the Colts landing the first defender at pick 15 in the 2024 NFL Draft
How Anthony Richardson surprised Chris Ballard during his rookie season with the Colts
Earlier, you saw a clip of Ballard sharing the health status of the team's starting QB. He also spoke about what he saw from Richardson during the four games he played last season. Specifically, his ability as a passer that quite frankly shocked Ballard in a positive way.
"The one thing that I was surprised about is he is really poised. Anthony has tremendous poise; there's no panic in him. Usually, you see with rookie QBs in the passing game when they drop back in the pocket, the first indication is to take off and run. But that's not Anthony, this guy's a passer."
- Ballard on Richardon's poise
