Colts conclude two-a-day practice schedule at camp

ANDERSON, Ind. (WLFI) - The grind of two-a-days practice at Anderson University have come to an end for the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts held their final two-a-day practice on Wednesday and have a scheduled night practice open to fans starting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening.

Head coach Chuck Pagano said he was proud of how his team practiced following the Rams game with a day in pads on Tuesday, and back in shells Wednesday afternoon.

“I told them in the locker room after Sunday’s game with Monday off, their biggest challenge would be complacency, read the papers a little bit, start patting yourself on the back,” head coach Chuck Pagano said.

“They pushed through it pretty good and they pushed through today. It was a long practice, got a lot accomplished so I feel good heading into the rest of this week and then heading to Pittsburgh.”

Most of the attention on Wednesday afternoon was on the middle linebacker position and the play of Jerrell Freeman.

With the loss of linebacker Pat Angerer, it was Freeman who got the first crack at filling the void.

“(Freeman) knows the system. He understands the call,” Pagano said. “It’s a great opportunity for him to go out there and play with the first unit and show what he can do.”

Freeman has been with the Colts since January 19, and after three years in the Canadian Football League, he is finally where he’s wanted to be his entire life.

“It’s the NFL, right?” Freeman said of playing at the highest level. “I’m from Texas, so all we know is football so of course you want to play in the NFL. It definitely is a dream to play here.”

On the positive injury news front, defensive end Cory Redding will see his first game action with the Colts on Sunday.

Redding sat out the preseason opener with the Rams due to an elbow injury but is glad to be back on the field this week playing against some familiar foes.

During Redding’s last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, he faced the Pittsburgh Steelers five times.

Even though it is still the preseason, Redding knows this game will have a little extra meaning in front of a nationally televised audience.

“I’ve already said my peace to the guys on what this game is going to be about. We don’t take this game lightly because it is preseason,” Redding said.

“These boys are going to put those pads on and are going to be ready to play. They took a loss against the Eagles but are now back at home, going against their old offensive coordinator (Bruce Arians), so it’s a lot of things built up on this game. Even though it’s a preseason game, it’s going to be pretty big.”