WESTFIELD, Ind. – It's not a secret that the Colts are looking for ways to get running back Nyheim Hines more involved in the offense. And it's not a secret that Hines can generate explosive plays with the ball in his hands.
But Hines has had a number of splash plays over the first week-plus of training camp. On Thursday, he snagged a pretty 30-yard touchdown from Matt Ryan and reeled in another score during seven-on-seven work.
- Hines has done work with both the Colts' running backs and wide receivers during individual drills, and head coach Frank Reich and offensive coordinator Marcus Brady have been intentional about moving him around to see just how much they can expand his role.
- "He knows that he's playing that dual kind of role there," Brady said. "So in order for him to be successful, we gotta get him those reps with Reggie (Wayne) in individuals and then as well as running back reps with Scottie (Montgomery). He's very busy but he's a lead player for us, and he's going to be very valuable."
While Hines tied a career low in touches last year (96), he set a career high in yards per touch (6.1). He fell four touches short of qualifying for the NFL leaderboard; if he did qualify, his 6.1 yards per touch average would've ranked third among all running backs (behind the Seahawks' Rashaad Penny and the Cowboys' Tony Pollard).
Other highlights from Thursday's practice:
- The Colts' defensive line was disruptive against both the run and pass. Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner – who had an impactful practice – stuffed a run play during a two-minute 11-on-11 period; Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue blew up a handful of passing plays too.
- Speaking of impactful practices: Cornerback Stephon Gilmore nearly picked off a pass in seven-on-seven, then had two pass break-ups in the two-minute 11-on-11 period.
- Linebacker Zaire Franklin, cornerback Brandon Facyson and cornerback Marvell Tell III all broke up passes throughout the afternoon, too.
- Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo had a forceful run stop during 11-on-11.
- Rookie tight end Andrew Ogletree had a spectacular one-handed catch for a touchdown in a seven-on-seven red zone period. Ogletree said he knew Ryan would throw him the ball when he saw how the linebackers were aligned, and he flashed his athleticism in coming down with the catch. Ogletree followed up that highlight reel play with near-touchdown on a pass from quarterback Nick Foles later in seven-on-seven.
- Ryan found tight end Mo Alie-Cox for a touchdown in a goal-to-go 11-on-11 drill; he also threw scores in red zone/low red zone drills to wide receivers Alec Pierce and Parris Campbell.
- Wide receiver Ashton Dulin flashed again with a low red zone touchdown reception from Foles, who also found wide receiver Dezmon Patmon in the end zone in 11-on-11.
- Practice ended with kickers Rodrigo Blankenship and Jake Verity each making 50-yard field goals.
Thursday's practice was the second padded practice of the 2022 Training Camp

71 T Jordan Murray, #78 C Ryan Kelly

43 RB Ty'Son Williams

5 CB Stephon Gilmore

38 CB Tony Brown

28 RB Jonathan Taylor

21 RB Nyheim Hines

30 RB Phillip Lindsay

15 WR Keke Coutee

62 C Wesley French, #9 QB Nick Foles

21 RB Nyheim Hines

2 QB Matt Ryan

34 CB Isaiah Rodgers

47 CB Anthony Chesley, #1 WR Parris Campbell

23 CB Kenny Moore II

41 CB Alexander Myres, #15 WR Keke Coutee

30 CB Dallis Flowers, #16 WR Ashton Dulin

25 CB Rodney Thomas II, #83 TE Kylen Granson

4 QB Sam Ehlinger

42 CB Marcel Dabo, #85 TE Drew Ogletree

14 WR Alec Pierce, #47 CB Anthony Chesley

14 WR Alec Pierce

38 CB Tony Brown, #7 WR Ethan Fernea

5 CB Stephon Gilmore

58 LB Bobby Okereke

14 WR Alec Pierce, #5 CB Stephon Gilmore

44 LB Zaire Franklin

32 S Julian Blackmon

5 CB Stephon Gilmore, #21 RB Nyheim Hines

23 CB Kenny Moore II

58 LB Bobby Okereke

26 S Rodney McLeod

48 LB James Skalski

Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Frank Reich

39 CB Marvell Tell III

80 TE Jelani Woods

91 DE Yannick Ngakoue

69 T Matt Pryor

58 LB Bobby Okereke

51 DE Kwity Paye

1 WR Parris Campbell, #23 CB Kenny Moore II

21 RB Nyheim Hines

2 QB Matt Ryan, Scott Milanovich Quarterbacks

52 DE Ben Banogu

96 DT R.J. McIntosh

2 QB Matt Ryan, #90 DT Grover Stewart

94 DT/DE Tyquan Lewis

45 LB E.J. Speed

59 DE Ifeadi Odenigbo

78 C Ryan Kelly

11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.

28 RB Jonathan Taylor

99 DT DeForest Buckner

44 LB Zaire Franklin

54 DE Dayo Odeyingbo, #42 RB CJ Verdell

3 QB Jack Coan

42 RB CJ Verdell

8 P Rigoberto Sanchez

40 CB Chris Wilcox

4 QB Sam Ehlinger

97 DT Curtis Brooks

57 LB JoJo Domann

71 T Jordan Murray

4 QB Sam Ehlinger

40 CB Chris Wilcox

99 DT DeForest Buckner

2 QB Matt Ryan

99 DT DeForest Buckner

56 C/G Quenton Nelson, #99 DT DeForest Buckner

76 T Jason Spriggs

2 QB Matt Ryan

52 DE Ben Banogu

44 LB Zaire Franklin

58 LB Bobby Okereke, #21 RB Nyheim Hines

44 LB Zaire Franklin

28 RB Jonathan Taylor

23 CB Kenny Moore II

20 S Nick Cross

9 QB Nick Foles

25 CB Rodney Thomas II

59 DE Ifeadi Odenigbo

45 LB E.J. Speed

34 CB Isaiah Rodgers

52 DE Ben Banogu

75 G Will Fries

53 LB Darius Leonard

46 LS Luke Rhodes

8 P Rigoberto Sanchez

2 QB Matt Ryan

16 WR Ashton Dulin, #10 WR Dezmon Patmon

21 RB Nyheim Hines

72 T/G Braden Smith, #63 G Danny Pinter

16 WR Ashton Dulin

Parks Frazier Pass Game Specialist/Assistant Quarterbacks, #3 QB Jack CoanScott Milanovich Quarterbacks, #2 QB Matt Ryan

4 QB Sam Ehlinger, #35 RB Deon Jackson

2 QB Matt Ryan

32 S Julian Blackmon

34 CB Isaiah Rodgers

46 LS Luke Rhodes

23 CB Kenny Moore II

54 DE Dayo Odeyingbo

14 WR Alec Pierce

14 WR Alec Pierce, #5 CB Stephon Gilmore

53 LB Darius Leonard
