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The Indianapolis Colts held a late afternoon training camp practice on Sunday, August 4th, which was the hottest practice of the summer to date.
I had the privilege of watching the Colt's boots on the ground at practice, and here are my biggest takeaways from the day.
Update on the Colts' CB room
The Colts' first-team defense yet again dominated the first-team offense during 11-on-11 sessions. Starting outside CB Juju Brents had one of his strongest practices as a Colt on Sunday. His man-to-man coverage stood out, along with a crazy athletic play to prevent a touchdown during red zone work. The Colts' second-year CB is beginning to look the part as a starting NFL CB.
Juju Brents made a crazy athletic play to prevent Andrew Ogletree from getting into the endzone on what looked like an easy walk in opportunity.
— Destin Adams (@TheDestinAdams) August 4, 2024
On the other hand, the other starting outside CB job didn't have as strong of a day. Fellow second-year CB Jaylon Jones was targeted often, and nearly each time was a completed pass for the Colts offense. Rookie WR Adonai Mitchell has gotten the best of Jones just about every time the two have been lined up against one another. And behind Jones wasn't much better, with Dallas Flowers being called for two pass interferences during the practice and, honestly, should have been called for a third.
It's been a rough day for Jaylon Jones, no matter who his assignment has been. Nearly every throw his way has led to a #Colts completion.
— Destin Adams (@TheDestinAdams) August 4, 2024
Underrated Colts defensive lineman getting work with the starters
Even before losing Samson Ebukam to a torn Achilles, the Colts were going to have to get creative with using the abundance of solid defensive linemen on the roster. During the team's first 11-on-11 period, we saw rookie Laiatu Latu and Kwity Paye as the starting edge rushers and DeForest Buckner and Tyquan Lewis as DTs. With Ebukam likely out for the season, I think this is the ideal group for obvious passing-down situations during the season. After a successful season from Lewis last year I think he's earned an increased snap count, and this could be the perfect way to do it.
The #Colts have Tyquan Lewis working on the interior with the starters for the first 11 on 11 period.
— Destin Adams (@TheDestinAdams) August 4, 2024
Latu and Paye off the edge Lewis and Buckner on the interior.
Rookie Adonai Mitchell is getting more comfortable
While he continues to split starting reps with Alec Pierce, Colts 2024 second-round pick Adonai Mitchell is noticeably improving throughout camp. The rookie WR's route running and his reliable hands shined during Sunday's practice. As mentioned earlier, he had second-year CB Jayon Jones' number throughout the day. And it didn't matter if he was with the first team or the second team he made the most of his opportunities. The most impressive thing to watch with Mitchell is how intentional he is during every break the WR gets. He has been glued to veteran Micahel Pittman Jr.'s hip, and you can often see him picking the brains of both Pittman and WR coach Reggie Wayne. I don't know if it's going to lead to immediate NFL production, but Mitchell's drive to be great is off the charts.
#Colts rookie Adonai Mitchell has been glued to Michael Pittman Jr.’s hip during every break period the WRs get.
— Destin Adams (@TheDestinAdams) August 4, 2024
Earlier this offseason Mitchell told me he was going to capitalize on every opportunity he had to pick Pittman and Wayne’s brains.
And I can confirm he wasn't lying. pic.twitter.com/vQFFfax4qA
More must-reads:
- Browns' Shedeur Sanders addresses missing practice with arm soreness
- Broncos' Sean Payton adds to Bo Nix hype with bold prediction
- The 'NFL mascot names' quiz
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Steelers Fans Watch As Stephen A. Smith Destroys George Pickens In Epic Rant: 'Pick Up A Book'
Now, the Steelers’ wide receiver room is in an interesting spot. With Pickens gone, Metcalf is the clear number one option, but there are questions about who will step up behind him. Meanwhile, Pickens seems to be enjoying his time in Dallas. He has taken a few subtle jabs at the Steelers, suggesting he is in a better place and even praising the Cowboys for their Super Bowl history. His comments have raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. One person who wasn’t impressed was ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. During a passionate segment on First Take, Smith ripped into Pickens for his remarks about the Cowboys being a Super Bowl team. He reminded Pickens that the Steelers are the more successful franchise and questioned whether the receiver understood what he was saying. Smith didn’t hold back, calling on Pickens to "pick up a book" and making it clear that he found the comments not only disrespectful, but uninformed. "Let me pause for a second and look in the camera for a second at George Pickens," Smith said. "I like George Pickens. He can ball, and I am sorry that he is gone from the Steelers and has now been contaminated by that Dallas Cowboys fan base." Pickens’ comments were very interesting. It’s no secret he feels a certain way about how the Steelers traded him. He’s been trying to keep a positive mindset about his new situation in Dallas, but it’s clear he’s made it a priority to throw in a few subtle jabs. Pickens said he understands the camaraderie in Dallas more than he ever did with the Steelers. He also claimed the Cowboys are synonymous with Super Bowls, which was a controversial statement considering the Steelers have more championships all-time than Dallas. "Here’s the deal," Smith said. "George Pickens, do you have any idea? When you talk about the Super Bowl and the Cowboys, you do understand that the Steelers are the more successful franchise. Did you know that? Did you know that? Do you understand what the he** you are saying? I mean, my God, you talk about a brother who needs to pick up a book. I am sorry, but I just have to call him out on that." Smith made it very clear that he thinks Pickens is a great football player and that he’s still a fan of his, even though he’s no longer on the Steelers. When you consider what Pickens was able to accomplish during his three seasons in Pittsburgh, it’s impressive. He played in one of the worst offenses in the NFL, yet he still managed to produce and deliver some truly exciting moments despite the team’s struggles. Steelers Fans Still Curious About George Pickens Now he finds himself in a much better offensive situation in Dallas, but from a franchise and team standpoint, the Cowboys are in a worse position than the Steelers. That’s why Pickens’ recent comments didn’t make much sense and why Smith felt the need to call him out during his epic rant. Many Steelers fans remain divided on the Pickens trade. Although he’s no longer in Pittsburgh, a lot of fans will continue to keep tabs on how he performs with the Cowboys. Whether out of frustration, curiosity, or lingering support, Pickens' journey in Dallas will be closely watched by Steeler Nation.
Al Horford to Warriors Receives Update After Jonathan Kuminga News
The Golden State Warriors’ offseason has been dominated by the unresolved standoff with forward Jonathan Kuminga. After a 2024-25 season where he averaged 15.3 points per game, Kuminga declined the team’s two-year, $45 million offer, citing issues with the second-year team option and the lack of a no-trade clause. Kuminga has also drawn interest from other teams—most notably the Sacramento Kings and Phoenix Suns—but Golden State has shut down all trade discussions, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The franchise has instead chosen to wait, leaving major offseason decisions on hold, including the potential signing of veteran big man Al Horford, who remains a free agent. Kuminga Set to Stay With the Golden State Warriors With the Warriors determined to stand their ground on the Kuminga saga, and the 6-foot-7 forward yet to accept their terms or the $7.9 million qualifying offer, all signs point to one likely scenario – Kuminga remaining a Warrior for at least one more season. According to Tim Kawakami of the San Francisco Standard, Golden State has no plans to trade Kuminga for the bare minimum this summer. He is expected to return to the Warriors’ roster—either by signing their current offer or accepting the qualifying offer. “The word I got when I checked in with a Warriors source on Sunday: Kuminga won't be traded this summer,” Kawakami wrote. “He'll be back on the Warriors' roster to start the season. And it'll either come when he signs the Warriors' offer or accepts the $7.9 million one-year qualifying offer.” The Warriors refusing to budge on their Kuminga stance means they will maintain the flexibility needed to make other moves that have been on hold — like the signing of Boston Celtics free agent Al Horford. What the New Jonathan Kuminga Report Means for Al Horford As it stands, it appears that the Warriors’ signing of Horford could be happening sooner than later. ESPN’s Anthony Slater noted towards the end of last month that Golden State identified Horford as its main target for a stretch-shooting center since the start of the offseason. However, his decision was believed to hinge on how the Kuminga situation played out. ESPN’s Marc Spears also recently noted that even players like Gary Payton II are waiting to see what Kuminga decides, further illustrating how his contract saga is impacting the entire roster. “I saw Gary Payton II two days ago. I'm like, what's going on? He's like waiting on [Jonathan Kuminga]. He is, Al Horford is.” With Kuminga presumably set to return next season, and seemingly under the Warriors' financial terms, the team will retain cap flexibility and avoid losing a core piece for nothing. It also positions them to move quickly on Horford or similar targets to solidify their frontcourt. If Kuminga opts for the qualifying offer, Golden State keeps his rights but risks future complications with trade leverage. Either way, the outcome of this standoff will likely shape how the Warriors enter training camp—and whether they can maximize what may be the final competitive window of the Stephen Curry era.
Edmonton Oilers' Top 3 PTO Targets That Could Shake Up Training Camp
The Oilers have shaken up their roster ahead of training camp, and Viktor Olofsson, Ilya Samsonov and Brett Leason are PTO options for GM Stan Bowman. This off-season has been a busy one for the Edmonton Oilers, with the team moving on from Corey Perry, Evander Kane, Victor Arvidsson and others, while adding Andrew Mangiapane and the young Isaac Howard to give them more youth and speed. While the roster appears all but set with the team unlikely to make a change in net despite speculation heading into the summer, there's still plenty of time before training camp to make an addition or two. Now, The Hockey Writers have identified several options for the team to bring in on Professional Tryouts this off-season, with all three of Brett Leason, Victor Olofsson and Ilya Samsonov making perfect sense for the current team. The two with the best chance to make this roster are Olofsson and Samsonov, with the team potentially looking for an upgrade at the backup goaltender spot, with the former Maple Leafs and Golden Knights net minder showing the potential to be a great backup at the National Hockey League level. However, it's Olofsson that's been the most productive in recent years, posting 15 goals a season ago in Vegas after posting 55 goals over his prior three seasons, including just 7 in 2023/24 with Buffalo, showing he could be inconsistent. Leason is the wild card in potential PTO options, with the 6-foot-5, 220 pound forward potentially having the chance to be a physical threat for this team in the bottom-six, but with so many players beyond these three looking for a new role in the NHL, if the Oilers want a cheap option for competition in training camp, several names may be brought in on PTO's.
Browns' Shedeur Sanders addresses missing practice with arm soreness
Eyebrows were raised when it was learned that Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders was held out of Saturday's training-camp practice due to arm soreness. Sanders returned to practice on Monday and noted he was "thankful" to be able to resume on-the-field work. He also said that experiencing such discomfort is nothing new for him. "Yeah, in college, it was often," Sanders explained, as shared by Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. "It’s just adjusting to starting and stopping, honestly. That’s all it truly is. Sometimes you go in hot. Then, you’ll wait for a second and then get cold. Then, get back hot and then get cold. My arm and body wasn’t used to that. It’s just an adjustment within my body, within my arm." Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski hasn't hidden that Sanders, a 2025 fifth-round draft pick, has been the team's fourth-choice option at the position behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett and 2025 third-rounder Dillon Gabriel. All signs are reportedly pointing to Flacco starting Cleveland's Week 1 game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Meanwhile, at least one Browns reporter believes that Gabriel, who is listed at 5-foot-11, is "just not a good quarterback" heading into Cleveland's preseason opener at the Carolina Panthers on August 8. It remains to be seen if Sanders will be an active participant in Cleveland's joint practice with Carolina on Wednesday. Logic suggests that Stefanski will want Gabriel and Sanders to see plenty of action versus the Panthers on Aug. 8 as long as the first-year pros are healthy that evening. "I think every rep I get in general is valuable," Sanders added during his comments. "We’re definitely taking things up a notch, I would say, with everything. Every rep. Anytime I step on the field, I take it like it could be my last. You don’t know. There were players we were practicing with last week that’s not here no more. It’s more about a bond. It’s more about going all out. It’s more about how you’ll be remembered." As of Monday afternoon, FanDuel Sportsbook had Flacco as the betting favorite at -245 odds to serve as Cleveland's Week 1 QB1. To compare, Sanders was a massive +2000 betting underdog to win the starting job this month. For an article published on Monday, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated mentioned that "it’s been apparent to those watching that Flacco’s got the best command over the offense" during camp. It certainly sounds like Sanders will spend at least a portion of the fall as an backup.
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