The Indianapolis Colts are heading into training camp with momentum after a strong 2020. When does it start, where will it be held, and are fans allowed to attend?
Advertisement
With phase 3 of the 2021 NFL offseason set to wrap up on June 18th, teams are already looking forward to training camp. It is by far the most grueling and pivotal part of a team’s preparations.
Training camps often include busy days for players and coaches, sometimes with 2 practices a day, weight training, team meetings, and film sessions.
Per the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), no contact is permitted during the first 3 days of camp. Days 4 and 5 will see players at full speed in light equipment called “spiders and shells”, day 6 is a mandatory day off, and finally fully-padded practices start on the 7th day.
Along with the strenuous schedule, full-speed practices mean that both contact and non-contact injuries are very common. Regardless, training camp is mandatory for all players unlike OTAs which are voluntary. If a player doesn’t show up, they risk getting cut by their team.
When Does Training Camp Start for the Indianapolis Colts?
For the first time in NFL history, there will be a unified start for training camp. 29 franchises, including the Colts, will kickoff their training camps on Tuesday, July 27th.
The Cowboys and Steelers, who will play in the preseason Hall of Fame game, are allowed to begin training camp as early as July 21st. The Buccaneers will also be allowed to start training camp 3 days earlier on the 24th, as they play the season opener against Dallas on a Thursday night.
Where is the Colts Training Camp Being Held?
Normally, NFL teams are permitted to hold training camp at outside facilities to improve accessibility for fans, However last year, due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID pandemic, teams were instructed to conduct camp at their own training facilities.
With the situation looking a little more optimistic, the league has informed teams they can return to outside facilities, should they choose to do so.
The Colts are expected to take advantage of this and hold camp at the Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield.
Indianapolis Colts Training Camp Roster: Key Position Battles to Watch
As usual, teams will start camp with 90-man rosters. They must cut down to 85 players by August 17th and to 80 by August 24th, before settling on a final 53-man roster by August 31st.
The Colts will be back in training with hopes of building off their impressive 11-5 record from 2020. Although most of the starters are essentially decided, Indy should have an interesting QB2 battle.
New arrival Carson Wentz will almost certainly be the starter, replacing the retired Philip Rivers. However, whose name comes second on the depth chart is not so certain.
The 2 backup QBs – Jacob Eason and Sam Ehlinger – might have a bigger role to play than expected. Wentz has had issues with staying healthy in the past, and his understudy needs to be ready to take the reigns at any moment.
This QB2 battle will definitely heat up in training camp. Frank Reich and his team will have a lot to consider, for example the fact that both players have largely different strengths and play-styles.
Ehlinger is a much quicker dual-threat QB while Eason is more of a traditional pocket passer who, from what we’ve seen, is more accurate.
Will Fans Be Allowed to Attend Colts Training Camp?
The NFL is planning to have fans at all training camps, with fan events scheduled to start on July 31st. The Colts are no exception, and they moved camp to the Grand Park for the same reason.
Also, the Colts are expected to play in front of a fully-packed Lucas Oil stadium in 2021, as are many teams with their respective home stadiums.
