Did the Indianapolis Colts just give their fans a reason to feel genuinely optimistic? After the first joint practice session with the New England Patriots, I think the answer is yes.

The Colts saw strong performances from several key players, and the early returns suggest this roster might be clicking at the right time.

Josh Downs and Daniel Jones building chemistry

The biggest takeaway from practice was the connection between quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Josh Downs. Per James Boyd on X, Daniel Jones ended a 2-minute drill with a touchdown pass to Josh Downs, who in turn was talking some trash to the Patriots.

That’s exactly the kind of energy you want to see. With wide receiver Alec Pierce currently sidelined due to his ankle surgery, Downs needs to step up and assume a major role in this Colts offense. We don’t know when Pierce will be back, although reports suggest he could play Week 1, and we don’t know what his impact will be early in the season. The receiver room, quite frankly, isn’t very talented or very deep, so Downs starting off hot with Jones and establishing strong chemistry early in sort of a WR1 role is a big deal for Indianapolis.

Tyler Warren primed for a breakout

Another name to watch coming out of this practice: second year tight end Tyler Warren. By all accounts, Warren had a great session against New England. Colts coach Shane Steichen even appeared on the Pat McAfee Show and said Warren has been outstanding all of fall camp, leading up to joint practice.

Keep in mind, Warren had over 70 catches and over 800 yards last year with the Colts in his rookie season, adding four touchdowns which is a great mark for a rookie tight end. However, I think all of those marks can take a step forward in Year 2. He’s going to have an even bigger role in the offense, and he’s got a full year of learning the system and building a rapport with his quarterback under his belt. He should feel a lot more comfortable heading into this season, and the sky could be the limit for this guy which improves the pass catcher doubts for Indy mightily. 

Secondary showing promise

The defense flashed some good signs too. Safety Cam Bynum picked off Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, and cornerback Justin Walley held his own in the slot against New England’s receivers. Cornerback Sauce Gardner obviously went viral for getting beat in a one-on-one drill by Patriots wide receiver A.J. Brown, but reporters noted Gardner had a solid practice overall. I do believe there is also reason for optimism with the Colts secondary. 

Look, anytime you can go to work in a joint practice setting against a team that went to the Super Bowl the year prior, it’s great for your club. The Colts are going to learn more about their roster and about each other through reps like these in the preseason.

Anthony Richardson’s audition continues

The last thing to note: The Colts announced Anthony Richardson will start Thursday night in the preseason opener against New England. By all accounts from reporters like ESPN’s Dan Graziano and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Indianapolis is still looking to find a trade partner for Richardson.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again – as a Colts fan, you should want Richardson playing his best football right now. You want him going out and dominating in the preseason so the Colts can try to get a somewhat valuable pick out of a potential trade. This is the No. 1 thing I’m looking for in the Colts preseason opener on Thursday against New England…how does Richardson perform?

The Colts have real reasons for optimism after this joint practice. Jones and Downs are building something. Warren looks ready for a leap. The secondary is holding its own against quality competition.

And look, while it is just one joint practice, key players showing signs of stepping up is a big deal for Indianapolis at this point in the preseason. If these trends continue into the regular season, Indianapolis could surprise some people in the AFC South.