The Indianapolis Colts are now eight training camp practices in, and second-year cornerback Jaylon Jones seems to have a strong grasp on one of the starting boundary positions.
"I think JJ's had a pretty good training camp," said defensive coordinator Gus Bradley after Monday's practice.
Jones has been the primary starter opposite of JuJu Brents when the Colts are lined up in nickel. This was also the case during OTAs and minicamp, however, prior to training camp beginning, GM Chris Ballard discussed a few positional battles, including cornerback, and mentioned that the only given was that Kenny Moore would be in the nickel. [affiliatewidget_smgtolocal]
Brents, a seventh-round pick by the Colts in 2023, ended up seeing significant playing time as a rookie due to injuries at the cornerback position. During the Colts' final 13 games, Jones played at least 60 percent of the defensive snaps in each contest, according to the team site.
While in coverage, Jones was targeted 57 times and allowed a completion rate of just 54 percent and limited pass-catchers to under 11.0 yards per reception. In fact, the 0.72 yards per snap Jones surrendered was the fourth-lowest by a rookie in the last 10 years, according to PFF.
"He had some up and down moments," general manager Chris Ballard said, "but I thought he played really well for the most part."
We often hear about the Year 2 leap for sophomore NFL players and Jones appears to be making that jump as training camp unfolds.
A key contributor to this developmental leap is the continuity of being in the same system for a full year, along with the experience gained. Jones played nearly 800 snaps as a rookie and like most second year players, is now more comfortable with his role and responsibilities, which often leads to faster, more confident play.
In addition to that, there is also something to be said for these players having a full offseason to focus on their craft, rather than preparing for the NFL draft.
"I'm just coming in and having a year under my belt and just being more comfortable with the defense," said Jaylon Jones. "More comfortable being an NFL football player just because you come in as a rookie and kind of dazed and confused a little bit. Just trying to figure out the ways. Look at the vets, see what they do and things like that.
"But once you get your routine and things like that, definitely coming into this year, I'm just, never comfortable, but comfortable coming in."
Brents seems to be pretty locked into one of the starting boundary positions. Competing with Jones is Dallis Flowers, who is coming off a shortened 2023 season due to an Achilles injury.
Flowers would only appear in four games last year, allowing 11 completions on 18 targets and 10.5 yards per catch with three pass breakups.
As Flowers gets further removed from the injury and more live reps under his belt, he's regaining his previous form, and continuing to push Jones.
"And Dallo," added Bradley, "I think with that injury we saw him come back, he was still about, maybe, I don't know, like 5-10 percent away from being him in OTAs but we feel that gap closing now to where he's getting closer to the Dallis we know."