Love's absence, Colts QB battle are
feature attractions of joint practice with Packers
[August 15, 2025]
By MICHAEL MAROT
WESTFIELD, Ind. (AP) Jordan Love showed up to Thursday's practice
wearing a red jersey and a bucket hat, his injured left thumb in a
protective cast.
A short distance away, on a second field, Anthony Richardson and
Daniel Jones resumed their battle to become the Indianapolis Colts'
starter.
Yes, the joint practice between the Green Bay Packers and Colts just
outside Indianapolis went just like any other training camp practice
with all eyes studying the good, bad and ugly of the quarterbacks.
Had a torn ligament in my thumb and we did a surgery to repair it.
So on the road to recovery, Love said in his first public comments
since having the procedure earlier this week on his non-throwing
hand. If this was in the middle of the season, we probably would
have been doing something that we didn't get the surgery on. But
with it still being early, having time to recover and be fully ready
for Week 1, the recommendation was for surgery.
The hope is Love begins working his way back next week and will have
a couple of additional weeks to recover before Green Bay's Sept. 7
season opener against Detroit. Love said it hasn't been decided
whether he'll participate in next week's joint practice with
Seattle.
So for now, Malik Willis is running the offense. Packers general
manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters Tuesday that Love would be
out at least a week.
I think easing back into it, we might do some things differently
just to protect the thumb for now, Love said. That's one of those
things where, after having the surgery, you don't want to go back
out there and re-injure it before the season. So we'll be smart with
it.
Love was injured on the final play of Green Bay's second series in
last week's loss to the New York Jets. Initially, he said he didn't
think anything was wrong, but he talked with trainers to see what
they thought. While he practiced Monday, Love was making handoffs
with his right hand instead of his left.
Meanwhile, the Colts still haven't announced who will start their
opener against Miami.
Richardson is expected to get his most extensive action of the
preseason when the Colts and Packers square off Saturday. Coach
Shane Steichen said earlier this week he plans to use Jones for the
first two series and let Richardson take most of the first-half
snaps.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr. throws during
an NFL football joint training camp with the Green Bay Packers,
Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Westfield, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron
Cummings)
That assumes Richardson stays healthy. He missed
some of Indy's offseason workouts with a sore throwing shoulder, and
then dislocated the pinkie on his throwing hand during last week's
preseason loss at Baltimore. Trainers popped the finger back into
place, but Richardson didn't take another snap against the Ravens
because he couldn't grip the ball properly.
By Saturday, he was back on the practice field.
Jones and Richardson continued to split snaps Thursday, with both
taking turns with the starters and the backups.
But as another week nears its end, no starter has been named.
I think that's natural, Jones said when asked if he wonders when a
winner will emerge. I think in this position, obviously, you're
aware of it and are thinking about it. But I think you know that
strategy for me and anyone in this situation is kind of focus as
much as you can on what you need to do.
Colts coach Shane Steichen and Packers coach Matt LaFleur were
watching more than just quarterbacks, especially after miserable
opening-week performances from both teams.
Near the end of practice, the Packers were credited with a sack of
Jones, who then threw an interception as play continued.
He was far from alone in making a mistake.
I think our youth showed a little bit today in some instances with
the injuries we have, Packers tight end Tucker Kraft said. We're
out here, full pads, expecting big things from some of the guys
we're elevating and I think we just left some meat on the bone.
Injury report
Colts receiver Josh Downs suffered a hamstring injury during the
practice. Steichen did not have an update on the severity of the
injury. Steichen also said defensive end Samson Ebukam has a back
injury.
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