3 best plays from the first week of Colts training camp

2. Nick Cross gets started early

Alec Pierce wasn’t the only rookie to step up, in fact, Pierce was beaten to the punch by his defensive counterpart Nick Cross. Drafted in the third round to play safety, Nick Cross quickly showed why Indy traded up to select him.

In Wednesday’s practice, the first practice of training camp, during the 7-on-7 period, Cross only needed until the second play before he made his first splash play. He was able to jump a route on a Matt Ryan-thrown ball and tip the ball in the air and then dive and catch it for an interception.

This display of athleticism is promising for the Colts for multiple reasons. For starters, you always want to see your rookies immediately do well, especially the ones you trade up to select on the first two days of the draft weekend. Additionally, Indy’s defense loves turnovers.

Indianapolis also has to be excited to see across doing well early because he will likely be the starter at strong safety for the Colts. Khari Willis was the starting strong safety for Indy but he retired this offseason to pursue ministry. His departure forced Cross into the spotlight maybe earlier than Indianapolis had planned but it appears as if he’s responding well.

If Nick Cross can keep making plays like this throughout training camp, the Colts will enter the season feeling really good about the secondary.