Live updates, news from Colts' first joint practice v. Falcons

The first joint practice between the Indianapolis Colts and the Atlanta Falcons commenced on Wednesday, and this outlet will be providing live updates on the proceedings. Such joint practices are increasingly common in the NFL and prove to be invaluable, offering starters and key players game-like reps in a more controlled setting. These drills play a crucial role in the evaluation process. We will update this article as the practice unfolds.

During the 1-on-1s, there were 19 Colts wide receivers matched up against 7 Falcons cornerbacks. The drills were clearly skewed towards the offense, but it was encouraging to see this aspect at least being addressed.

Early in the first team period, the Falcons' defense targeted the Colts' offense, with Atlanta capitalizing on a couple of breakdowns. Jonathan Taylor's run was disrupted on the opening snap, and Daniel Jones was quickly sacked a few plays later following a missed block.

Keenan Allen, the Colts' star wide receiver, met with local reporters and disclosed that his current head coach, Shane Steichen, who was once his offensive coordinator with the Chargers, played a significant role in his decision to join the Colts. He mentioned that there was some back-and-forth between him and Steichen, outside of the agent's influence. He mentioned that other teams also showed interest, but the Colts were his choice.

Injury updates from the practice reveal that WR Anthony Gould suffered a groin injury, CB Mooney Ward had a back problem, and OT Luke Tenuta and OT Nolan Rucci both dealt with back issues. WR Alec Pierce was listed as PUP (Probationary Unsigned Player) due to an ankle injury, and Keenan Allen, who had just joined the team, was also absent from the practice. RB DJ Giddens, who suffered a hamstring injury, was back on the field.