WESTFIELD – It takes two to consummate a contract.
Ryan Kelly found himself one party shy.
The Indianapolis Colts’ four-time Pro Bowl center is heading into his ninth season. But more to the point, the team’s longest-tenured player is in the final year of his contract. Kelly has a base salary of $11.375 million and the $12.4 million average of his expiring deal ranks No. 3 among centers.
He approached the team regarding a possible extension but was met with unreceptive ears.
“From our standpoint, the Colts have basically made it pretty clear that they don’t want to do any early extension,’’ Kelly said Wednesday as players reported to Grand Park Sports Campus for the start of training camp. “It is what it is.’’
Kelly has started 111 of a possible 131 regular-season games – he’s missed only seven starts the last five seasons – since being selected with the 18th overall pick in the 2016 draft.
During the offseason, he reaffirmed his desire to remain with the Colts and extend his career to at least 10 seasons.
“We made it known that we wanted to stay, that we wanted to have an extension, and they didn’t see it as part of their priorities,’’ he said.
General manager Chris Ballard declined to specifically address Kelly’s situation, but mentioned the team’s history of rewarding its own. In March, the Colts signed linebacker Zaire Franklin to an extension. The next month, they did the same with defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
“One thing we’ve proven since we’ve been here is we’re loyal to players who have been good players,’’ Ballard said. “I think that will work itself out over time.’’
It’s impossible not to notice the Colts selected Tanor Bortolini in the fourth round of the April draft. He was a 13-game starter at center for Wisconsin last season.
Pittman: improving ‘tier’ status
Michael Pittman Jr. is coming off the best season of his career – 109 receptions, 1,152 yards, four touchdowns – and was rewarded with a three-year, $70 million extension.
But the team’s No. 1 receiver isn’t satisfied.
“I’m just chasing respect, right?’’ Pittman said. “The whole thing that comes with being an older guy is I’m known now, but I need to get to that next level and reach that next tier.’’
That comes with boosting his TD total, he admitted. He has just 15 in 62 career games.
“So, that’s something I’m really going to focus on,’’ he said. “Once we get that going, then we’ll start looking in other directions.’’
In Pittman’s mind, there are three tiers of wideouts: tier 1 includes players with at least 1,400 yards in a season, tier 2 is for players with at least 1,200 and tier 3 is for players with at least 1,000.
“I’m right below that tier 2. And the thing is, I was on my way to tier 1 and then I got hurt.’’
Pittman missed the week 16 trip to Atlanta with a concussion. Over the final two games, he was limited to 46 yards against the Raiders and 44 against Houston.
Pittman and several of his teammates prepared for camp by spending three days on the West Coast working out.
Healthy roster
There are a few exceptions, but the Colts head into camp with a relatively healthy roster. Knock on wood.
Cornerback Chris Lammons opens camp on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) while recovering from ankle surgery and defensive tackle Raekwon Davis was placed on the non-football injury list (NFI) with an undisclosed injury.
Perhaps the most encouraging news was Braden Smith passed his pre-camp physical and is on the active roster. The veteran right tackle was limited to 10 starts last season and battled a knee injury most of the season. He underwent surgery on his left knee after the end of last season.
“We’ll start working him back in slowly,’’ Ballard said.
Also, it was revealed starting cornerback JuJu Brents underwent a “clean up’’ procedure on his ankle following the Colts’ offseason work.
“It was kind of bothering him,’’ Ballard said, “but he’s good. He could be a little limited early for a few days but I watched him work out. He looks good.’’
Brents, a 2023 second-round pick and Warren Central High School product, was limited to nine games and eight starts as a rookie with wrist, hip and hamstring issues.
Richardson in the preseason?
Quarterback Anthony Richardson isn’t expected to have any limitations during camp and likely will see playing time in preseason games.
“We’ll make that determination,’’ Ballard said of preseason exposure, “but most likely . . . those guys (starters) are going to play.’’
Ballard also reaffirmed the team’s starting quarterback is full-go for camp. Richardson was held out of the final day of the three-day veteran’s minicamp when he experienced soreness in his surgically repaired right shoulder.
“He threw over 100-and-something the day before,’’ Ballard said. “I mean, he could've been healthy and we might’ve pulled him back. I mean, when you fire that many balls off in one day, that’s tough on any thrower.
“I’m not expecting any limitations right now. None.’’
Roster move
The Colts signed veteran wideout Laquon Treadwell and waived wideout Xavier White.
The 6-2, 215-pound Treadwell was a 2016 first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings. He has appeared in 81 games with seven teams and has collected 111 receptions, 1,242 yards and five TDs.
You can follow Mike Chappell on Twitter at @mchappell51.