Carson Wentz practices for 2nd straight day, optimism growing among teammates

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — There’s been a major shift in the mood surrounding the Indianapolis Colts over the past 48 hours. 

The team got three starters back on the practice field, and each of them appears to be ahead of schedule.

“Everything went well and the recovery was really quick,” head coach Frank Reich said. “It feels to me – what do I know – that we are a week ahead of what I thought we may be.”

Positive vibes are overflowing in the final days of training camp.

Morale took a 180-degree turn as the Colts get healthy at just the right time. Carson Wentz, Quenton Nelson and Ryan Kelly were all back for consecutive days of practice.

“Man, we’re getting back to full strength, you know,” running back Nyheim Hines said. “Seeing a Ryan (Kelly), Carson (Wentz) and Quenton (Nelson) out there is, you know, gives you some optimism.”

But with just three weeks left before the season-opener against the Seattle Seahawks, is there enough time to play catch-up?

“I mean, it’s gonna have to be,” Wentz said. “I mean, I’d love to get as many reps as I could out here I would have loved to have, you know, more offseason workout, more OTAs all that, but the hand that I’ve been dealt. Now, unfortunately, I’ve been here before with limited reps and had to go play. And so, I still feel confident with that timeline and everything.”

And so far, so good. Wentz’s foot is responding well, just like his offense.

“He looked good,” wide receiver Zach Pascal said. “He was connecting on all cylinders.”

“I mean, three weeks went by really fast,” Kelly added. “I think the good news, I mean, we made the best of our situation all three of us being out gave us some time to sit on the sidelines. You know, you kind of (have a meeting of the minds), but it’s obviously great to be back out there. Nothing can replicate being out there in pads.”

It was a best-case scenario for the penultimate day of Colts training camp.