WESTFIELD, Ind. – Wearing a gray T-shirt with a drawing of Rigoberto Sanchez on it, Bubba Ventrone on Wednesday explained that the Colts' punter's torn Achilles felt like "it's my son that got hurt."
"I'm extremely upset for (Sanchez)," Ventrone said. "He put in so much hard work this entire offseason. ... How much time he's put in and the work, I just appreciate him so much and his wife Cynthia and their baby Bali, I just really feel for him. It's gonna be extremely hard to — you're not going to replace a guy like that. He does so much for our team not only on the field but off the field. He's a great person, a great leader, and just upset for him and his family."
While replacing Sanchez – Pro Football Focus' fifth highest-graded punter in 2021 – will be a tall task, the Colts tried out a number of punters on Wednesday, Ventrone said.
"We're going to do our best to not replace but to get something," Ventrone said. "Guys are going to have to step up."
Other news, notes and observations from Wednesday's practice at Grand Park:
- Wednesday's practice was the final outdoor practice for the Colts at Grand Park this training camp. The Colts will practice indoors in Westfield on Thursday to close out training camp.
- The Colts were not in pads on Wednesday and focused on situational work, including handling loud crowd noise.
- With center Ryan Kelly (COVID) not practicing, Danny Pinter slid from right guard to center and 2021 seventh-round pick Will Fries stepped in at right guard.
- Defensive end Kwity Paye sustained a knee injury, but remained on the sideline for the rest of practice.
- Linebacker Bobby Okereke and cornerback Tony Brown broke up passes during seven-on-seven work.
- Also in seven-on-seven: Quarterback Matt Ryan completed throws in traffic to wide receiver Parris Campbell and tight end Jelani Woods; he also linked up with wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. a few times.
The Colts held their fifteenth practice of 2022 Training Camp on Wednesday, August 24.
56 C/G Quenton Nelson
31 DB Brandon Facyson
28 RB Jonathan Taylor
2 QB Matt Ryan
2 QB Matt Ryan
28 RB Jonathan Taylor
28 RB Jonathan Taylor÷
21 RB Nyheim Hines
21 RB Nyheim Hines
21 RB Nyheim Hines
71 T Jordan Murray
12 WR DeMichael Harris
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.
1 WR Parris Campbell
15 WR Keke Coutee
17 WR Mike Strachan
2 QB Matt Ryan
9 QB Nick Foles
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr., #5 CB Stephon Gilmore
83 TE Kylen Granson
1 WR Parris Campbell
49 TE Michael Jacobson, #20 S Nick Cross
16 WR Ashton Dulin
31 DB Brandon Facyson, #17 WR Mike Strachan
10 WR Dezmon Patmon, #5 CB Stephon Gilmore
32 S Julian Blackmon
44 LB Zaire Franklin
39 CB Marvell Tell III
45 LB E.J. Speed
49 TE Michael Jacobson
38 CB Tony Brown
28 RB Jonathan Taylor, #2 QB Matt Ryan
2 QB Matt Ryan
28 RB Jonathan Taylor
28 RB Jonathan Taylor
48 LB James Skalski
59 DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, #80 TE Jelani Woods
63 G Danny Pinter, #68 DT Byron Cowart
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.
99 DT DeForest Buckner
31 DB Brandon Facyson
71 T Jordan Murray, #94 DT/DE Tyquan Lewis
2 QB Matt Ryan
2 QB Matt Ryan
1 WR Parris Campbell
2 QB Matt Ryan
75 G Will Fries, #90 DT Grover Stewart
9 QB Nick Foles
16 WR Ashton Dulin
35 RB Deon Jackson
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr., #26 S Rodney McLeod
11 WR Michael Pittman Jr.
Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Frank Reich
99 DT DeForest Buckner
16 WR Ashton Dulin, #31 DB Brandon Facyson
2 QB Matt Ryan
83 TE Kylen Granson
81 TE Mo Alie-Cox
35 RB Deon Jackson, #2 QB Matt Ryan
9 QB Nick Foles
56 C/G Quenton Nelson
53 LB Darius Leonard
