1. Daniel Scott's pick-six was impressive given what the safety has been through the last two years.

In the first quarter, safety Daniel Scott hopped in front of a Desmond Ridder pass for an interception. He then directed traffic and set up a couple blocks to scythe his way into the end zone for a 35-yard pick six.

For Scott, the moment – and finishing the 2025 preseason healthy – meant plenty given what he's been through over the last two years.

The Colts selected Scott in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and saw him not only as an immediate contributor on special teams, but as someone who could offer key depth at safety. The Cal product, though, sustained a torn ACL in practice that June.

General manager Chris Ballard specifically mentioned Scott's injury during a press conference a few days after the 2023 season ended.

"We were really excited about Scott," Ballard said. "He tears his ACL during OTAs – let me tell you about him, he did not miss one day of practice. I don't know if I've ever been around a kid that just every day in the same spot paying attention, dialing in mentally – every single day from training camp to the end of the year. The kid didn't miss a day. So, getting him back will be good for our back end.

"He's smart. He's athletic. We really liked what we saw the limited time that we had him."

Scott worked his way back for the 2024 offseason program and continued to impress folks around the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center.

"He's a smart player," head coach Shane Steichen said. "I think he's going to have a hell of a future. He's smart, intelligent."

Scott, though, tore his Achilles' during an OTA practice in May of 2024. Again, his season was over before it could begin.

Scott has stayed healthy in 2025 and, on Saturday, made his final case to earn a spot on the Colts' 53-man roster. He made a play on special teams, and his pick-six was the sort of highlight he's worked toward getting for the last few years.

"It's been emotional," Scott said. "It's been a lot of physical recovery that we've had to do, but it's a lot of mental recovery as well. I think the last two years, you can't really prepare for that, but I think that's just a unique story that I have."

2. Riley Leonard took advantage of his extended opportunity.

Leonard carved up the Bengals' defense – which, like the Colts, was not playing its starters – for 15 completions on 20 attempts (75 percent) for 189 yards (9.5 yards/attempt) with a 59-yard touchdown and a 14-yard scramble in the first half.

"I thought he was really efficient," Steichen said. "He was 15-of-20, moving the football up and down the field, accurate, 75 percent there. I thought that was impressive."

Leonard is firmly behind starter Daniel Jones and backup Anthony Richardson Sr. on the Colts' depth chart, but he could earn a 53-man roster spot as an emergency third quarterback. Both Jones and Richardson have dealt with varying degrees of injuries in their respective careers; the Colts carried Sam Ehlinger on their 53-man roster as an emergency third quarterback in each of the last two seasons.

"We're looking through all that stuff," Steichen said.

3. Spencer Shrader wrapped up an impressive preseason.

Shrader connected on field goals from 46 and 44 yards, bringing his final preseason tally to nine field goals made on 10 attempts. Shrader's lone miss was a 52-yarder in the Colts' preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens; he connected from 53 and 56 yards this preseason as well. He also made all three of his PAT attempts.

Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason said earlier this month the team plans to open the 2025 season with Shrader as their kicker; he emerged from a competition with undrafted rookie Maddux Trujillo to earn that job.

4. Several O-linemen got an extended run on Saturday.

The only Colts starter on offense or defense to take the field Saturday was right guard Matt Goncalves, who played 15 snaps.

"Just transitioning from tackle into right guard, just want to give him one more quarter in there just to get him more comfortable at that position," Steichen said. The Colts converted Goncalves from tackle – the position he played in college and for all but one snap as a rookie in 2024 – to guard this offseason.

Backup tackles Jalen Travis (34 snaps) and Luke Tenuta (40 snaps) also played, as did backup center Danny Pinter (15 snaps) and backup guard Dalton Tucker (30 snaps, including some at center). Steichen, on the whole, liked what he saw from that group.

"They did a great job," Steichen said. "They were moving the football efficiently, throwing it efficiently, running it efficiently. They gave great effort, thought they did a good job winning one-on-ones. I'll go back and watch the tape but I thought those guys played well."

5. Laquon Treadwell has been a "perfect example" for younger players on the Colts.

Wide receiver Laquon Treadwell was a first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2016, the same draft class that produced DeForest Buckner (No. 7 overall), for some context.

Treadwell is the only wide receiver drafted in the first round that year to still be active: Corey Coleman (No. 15 overall, Browns) last played in 2018, Will Fuller (No. 21 overall, Texans) last played in 2021 and Josh Doctson (No. 22 overall, Washington) last played in 2019.

While Treadwell was on the Colts' practice squad in 2024, he was elevated for two games; that he's still competing and playing at the age of 30, though, has earned him plenty of respect within the Colts' locker room. His dedication to practice squad snaps or special teams reps, as well as the wealth of experience he possesses, was made all the better by his six catches for 119 yards with a touchdown on Saturday.

"I think he's your perfect example of a guy that continues to fight and grind," Steichen said. "A former first-round pick that just owns his role, goes out there, has done a great job, a special teams and practice squad player. Just does everything right and he works his tail off. He never complains, always grateful for every opportunity he gets and to see what he did today with six catches and the touchdown there at the end of the half was awesome."