INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — JW Marriott Indianapolis is known for making sports “larger than life.”

For instance, the hotel has featured a large March Madness bracket on its windows in the past. Most recently, it featured an image of Fever rookie guard Caitlin Clark in a Gatorade ad.

This past week, the hotel put a new image on the east windows of its building. The image features three members of the Indianapolis Colts, quarterback Anthony Richardson, running back Jonathan Taylor and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

News 8 Sports’ Andrew Chernoff asked Richardson about the image on Friday after the team’s training camp practice in Westfield, Ind.

“That’s definitely cool,” Richardson said. “I appreciate the city embracing me. It means a lot to me and lets me know I’m doing something right. I got a lot of support behind me. So, I’m thankful for it.”

The north window features the phrase “For The Shoe,” the official hashtag of the Colts on X, formally known as Twitter.

Richardson is gearing up for his second season as the Colts starting quarterback. Last year, his rookie season was cut short after he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in October.

He’s back healthy and ready to play a full 2024 season.

“It’s definitely easier to manage our offense now,” Richardson said. “I’m a lot more comfortable, a lot more comfortable with the calls when Shane (Steichen) is calling them. Then just looking at a defense, I’m able to scan the defense a lot longer and just check out what I’m going to have on a certain play. So I’m definitely a lot more comfortable in the offense, and I want to plan on continuing to get more comfortable in it.”

The Colts continue training camp on Monday when they practice from 2 p.m. EDT to 3:30 p.m. EDT at Grand Park.

The team’s first preseason game is just one week away when it hosts the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Aug. 11 at 1 p.m. EDT inside Lucas Oil Stadium.

EUGENE – Former Oregon Duck and current defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts, DeForest Buckner, is rising in the record books. The former Duck has established himself as one of the most dominant interior defenders in the NFL, and his impact on the Colts has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Buckner is just one sack away from breaking Ellis Johnson’s franchise record for most sacks in Colt history with 32.5 Sacks. While Johnson’s tenure with the Colts lasted seven seasons, Buckner is on track to beat this record in just his fifth year with the Colts.

His impact extends far beyond sacks. Buckner has already solidified his position as the Colts’ all-time leader in quarterback hits for defensive tackles with 87 total quarterback hits. Buckner is also on the cusp of claiming the crown for passes defended by a defensive lineman with 16 passes defended, third among Colts defensive linemen.

The defensive tackle’s ability to disrupt plays is evident in his tackles for loss. Buckner’s 42 tackles for loss places him fifth on the Colts’ all-time list. This season, Buckner has the chance to move to third in Tackles For Loss for the Colts behind Freeney and Mathis, passing Chad Bratzke and Raheem Brock with 4 more in the 2024 season. Buckner’s 281 total tackles and 166 solo tackles rank him third among Colts defensive tackles.

While Buckner’s achievements are more than impressive, it is important to note that sacks did not officially start being counted until 1982, nearly 30 years after the Colts became a franchise in 1953. Colts legends such as Art Donovan, Gene Lipscomb, and John Dutton played before sacks became an officially recorded statistic. Nonetheless, Buckner’s impact in the modern era is undeniable. His ability to command double teams creates opportunities for teammates to make plays is invaluable.

Buckner’s journey to the NFL began at the University of Oregon, where he played from 2012 to 2015. In 2015, Buckner was recognized as the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. He finished second on the team in tackles with 83 while also earning recognition as the team’s defensive Most Outstanding Player. Buckner was also awarded the prestigious Morris Trophy, an award voted on by opposing Pac-12 linemen.

As Buckner continues his Colts career, the possibility of breaking more franchise records is large. His combination of talent, work ethic, and leadership makes him a cornerstone of the team’s defense. Buckner is solidifying his status as one of the greatest defensive tackles in franchise history.

An innovative technology company that enhances sound at live sporting events is looking to grow its operations in Indiana.   

Valtteri Salomaki, co-founder and CEO of EDGE Sound Research, says his company is building end-to-end audio infrastructure that allows users to control how they hear live events. The new technology, he says, lets users enjoy real-world experiences through heightened sound.  

Salomaki says the technology can be used at concerts, live sporting events, and at home. EDGE Sound Research works with sound from capture to reproduction. Salomaki calls it “a new way to create sound.”  

The new technology also allows the user to turn materials, like walls, couches, or seat cushions, into sound by manipulating vibrations. Once the hardware is attached to a material, the user can hear sound coming from it. Salomaki says this will allow event-goers to “feel what the performer feels.”

Salomaki brought his idea to the Rally Innovation Conference pitch competition last year and walked away with a cash prize that allowed him to expand his research and development and create a new partnership with the Indiana Pacers. 

Initially, he was just looking to network and share how his product could impact the Indiana economy, but Salomaki says the Rally Innovation Conference was crucial to the growth of his business. Since then, he has been able to create new partnerships and is now focused on building out the commercial arm of his business in Indiana.