WESTFIELD, Ind. — A lot of work was had across two days of joint practice between the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday and Thursday.

But what were the biggest takeaways from Colts headquarters ahead of a Saturday night preseason game? Let’s dive in now that we’re fully dry:

Arizona Cardinals wide receivers came to play

There wasn’t a more consistent position group than Arizona’s wide receiving corps throughout practice.

Marvin Harrison Jr. continued to look as advertised with extended reps against another team, getting the better of starting cornerbacks Kenny Moore II, Jaylon Johnson and other Colts defenders regularly.

Marvin Harrison Jr. just shook Kenny Moore II out of the frame during 1-on-1s. #AZCardinals #Colts pic.twitter.com/FuCun9fgd2

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) August 14, 2024

“I think it’s cool for him and all our receivers to go against different DBs,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said Thursday. “Kenny looks one way and the next guy (Harrison) goes against looks the complete opposite way. That’s good. That’s what it’s going to be week in and week out on Sunday. Good to get the exposure to that in these two days.”

As for in the slot, Greg Dortch continues to show off his confidence in a regular offensive role.

Much like Harrison, Dortch flashed his route-running, ability to separate and athleticism throughout joint work.

“My confidence has always been high,” Dortch said Thursday. “I’m very confident. I’m not the biggest guy — in fact, I’m probably the smallest guy out here — so I gotta bring some type of confidence to my game. Hopefully, when I play you can see it.”

Second-year pro Michael Wilson was his consistent self, while Dan Chisena continued to make plays after leading all Cardinals pass catchers with five catches for 63 yards in Saturday’s preseason loss to the New Orleans Saints.

It also looked like quarterback Kyler Murray’s chemistry with veterans Zay Jones and Chris Moore, who was also getting special teams looks, is developing.

And although he’s not listed as a wideout, tight end Trey McBride didn’t miss a beat through most of the practices outside of a dropped pass during two-minute drills.

Cause for concern?

The biggest negative from the past two days was Arizona’s inability to finish practices on a high note, specifically the first-team offense and defense.

Much like the first-team offense’s ending on Day 1, Murray and Co. looked out of sorts through two two-minute drills on Thursday.

Whether it was the incompletions, penalties or pressure from the Colts defensive line, Arizona was held out of the end zone. The weather didn’t help, but it was definitely not the ending Gannon was hoping for, especially knowing Murray won’t play in any of the remaining preseason matchups.

Arizona’s first-team defense wasn’t able to buck the late trend, either.

There was an uptick in the secondary’s play during Day 2. Garrett Williams, Starling Thomas V and Sean Murphy-Bunting had their moments during 7-on-7 work, but overall, it was a struggle trying to contain the Colts offense led by second-year pro Anthony Richardson.

During one last two-minute drill against Richardson and Co., the first-team defense could do little to keep the Colts out of the end zone. The drive started with a pair of first-down strikes to Michael Pittman Jr. and Adonai Mitchell before Murphy-Bunting got popped with a pass interference penalty to set up a short touchdown run by Richardson.

Arizona certainly added more talent to the roster with Murphy-Bunting and rookie Max Melton looking like integral parts of the defense moving forward. That doesn’t sidestep the fact that there’s still going to be a massive microscope on the Cardinals’ cornerback situation in 2024.

Now, there are still a few weeks to fine-tune things before the regular season. Gannon is hoping the lessons learned this week can translate over to when the bullets go live.

“You’re really not game planning like a game,” Gannon said Thursday. “(Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing) said it best in the offensive meeting. Maybe if we would have game-planned a little bit different (maybe it would have looked different), but we gotta have SOPs, standard operation procedures, and then we gotta be able to handle and think on the run, too, on different things, because that’s what a game can be.

“You’re not going to get every look and know what’s going on and be able to get to things that can handle that stuff. It’s a really good learning experience for our guys. That’s why I love these things.”

Trench work

Important pieces to Arizona’s defensive line brought it during the two-day stretch.

Rookie Darius Robinson was quick to stand out during Day 1 of practice. His forklifting of starting guard Quenton Nelson during 1-on-1s was a good example of what he brought to the table this week.

#AZCardinals DL vs #Colts OL drills:

-Rookie DL Darius Robinson vs 6x Pro Bowl OG Quenton Nelson pic.twitter.com/1Z6M1pUDbP

— Paul Calvisi (@PaulCalvisi) August 15, 2024

Khyiris Tonga also deserves some credit for his play, especially getting some extended looks throughout Day 2.

Khyiris Tonga vs. Josh Sills. #AZCardinals #Colts pic.twitter.com/mkhqpjSVYb

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) August 15, 2024

Both Robinson and Tonga are vying for meaningful roles in the trenches.

Robinson’s biggest competition appears to be Bilal Nichols, Justin Jones and L.J. Collier.

Tonga meanwhile is battling alongside Roy Lopez, a player who has seriously impressed throughout training camp.

On the other side of the ball, Paris Johnson Jr.’s transition to left tackle seems to be on an upward trend with work still to be done. Seeing more consistency out of Evan Brown and Jonah Williams could further solidify a line that is expected to block for a top rushing attack in 2024, too.

Clayton Tune widens gap

When it comes to the QB2 battles between Tune and Desmond Ridder, the former remains out in front following two days of joint practice.

Both had their ups and downs, but Tune managed to at least move the ball down the field some during his final two-minute showing.

The same can’t be said for Ridder, who threw an interception on his first pass attempt in the two-minute drill, effectively ending his joint practice action with Tune taking over immediately following.

Tune wasn’t nearly on his mark like he had been — he was bailed out by Colts defenders on two risky throws that could have been picks — but hung in there.

Another strong preseason showing from Tune could solidify his spot as QB2 behind Murry.

Chippy yet disciplined

After seeing a few dustups in Arizona’s training camp work at State Farm Stadium, a lot of those around the team expected some tempers to flare.

There were some heated moments between the Cardinals and Colts but nothing that could be classified as fighting.

As for the chippiest part of the program? That belonged to the special teams, where DeeJay Dallas had a couple of collisions that didn’t sit well with the Colts.

“It got a little feisty but I think you expect that especially in Day 2 of joint practice,” linebacker Krys Barnes said Thursday. “I think we handled it pretty well even with it getting a little chippy. Thankfully they probably ended it right before it got out of hand. I think we got the work we needed.”

Still, no punches were thrown and no one was ejected, a big positive in the books of Gannon and Colts head coach Shane Steichen.

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Arizona Cardinals fans certainly have reason to worry about the edge position at the moment.

When BJ Ojulari went down, options – albeit not great – were available.

Now with Carl Lawson (who Arizona brought in for a tryout before he eventually signed with Dallas) and Matthew Judon traded to the Falcons, those options are dwindling.

Apart from trading for the very unhappy Hasaan Reddick, or signing Yannick Ngakoue, Arizona and Monti Ossenfort will need to pull a rabbit out of their hat – similar to trading for Josh Dobbs about this time last year.

Here are a few players the Cardinals could trade for to help aid their pass-rush woes:

It would be poetic, ironic…well really heartwarming if Arizona went out and signed BJ Ojulari’s brother to replace him. However – it’s not as far fetched as it may seem. If Azeez is already being set apart to fit a special role after just three seasons with the Giants, he may just… not be a good fit?

One would think the Giants would be willing to listen to offers in Ojulari’s last season of this deal (i.e. a very late Day 3 pick) to get something in return for him. Let’s also not forget – in 2021, Ojulari did have eight sacks, which would have led Arizona last season.

Turner has certainly not lived up to the draft hype he had coming out of Houston in 2021, and going in to the 2024 season, the former first-rounder has just three sacks. The constantly cash-strapped New Orleans Saints would probably take a late-round pick just to get something for him.

Turner’s coming off an injury, which would give Ossenfort pause to be sure – but if he and assistant GM Dave Sears liked him coming out of Houston, why not give him a shot?

Dayo Odeyingbo was perhaps a surprise second-round pick for the Colts in 2021 – but even more surprising was his eight sack season in 2023.

The coaching staff for the Cardinals will have a good look at him thanks to two joint practices on top of their Week 2 preseason game – and given he is going into the last year of his deal – Ossenfort may be able to send a Day 3 pick to the Colts.

• Nickname: Wildcats
• Location: Tucson, Ariz.
• Enrollment: 51,134
• Home field: Arizona Stadium (Capacity: 50,782)
• Conference: Big 12
• 2023 record: 10-3, 7-2 Pac-12
• All-time series record vs. UCF: First meeting

Editor’s note: This is the ninth installment in a 12-part series highlighting UCF’s 2024 football opponents.

UCF grounded Doak Walker Award winner Ollie Gordon last year to keep its Space Game record perfect. To do so again, the Citronauts will need to shut down one the nation’s premier passing combinations.

Big 12 newcomer Arizona, which begins the year ranked No. 21 in the US LBM Coaches Poll, visits the Bounce House for the first time on Nov. 2 — right in the heart of a crucial conference stretch for UCF. The Wildcats earned three first-place votes in the league’s preseason media poll, settling for fifth behind Utah, Kansas State, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Last season, Arizona posted double digits in the win column for the first time since 2014, closing with seven straight victories including five against ranked opponents. It punctuated a resurgent campaign with an Alamo Bowl triumph over Oklahoma, which exited the Big 12 officially in July to join the SEC.

For context, the Wildcats began the decade with just one win in their first 17 games.

UCF, meanwhile, is not only undefeated in its seven Space Game showdowns but has done so in dominant fashion. Its all-time margin of victory is 349-147, an average of 28.9 points per game.

Brent Brennan takes over for Jedd Fisch, hires Dino Babers as OC

Fisch completed a gigantic turnaround, a nine-win improvement in the space of two seasons. However, the former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator bolted for Washington when Kalen DeBoer was named Nick Saban’s successor at Alabama.

Arizona filled its vacancy with Brent Brennan, who spent the previous seven seasons at San Jose State. The Spartans have gone bowling six times since 2000, and three of those instances came during Brennan’s regime.

Brennan, 51, played five seasons at UCLA as a wide receiver and lettered for the Bruins during their 1993 Rose Bowl run. He worked as a Division I assistant for 16 years before taking the head job at San Jose State, where he posted a 34-48 overall record.

Upon taking the job, Brennan promoted Duane Akina to defensive coordinator and hired Dino Babers as the offensive coordinator. Babers, an Arizona assistant from 1995-2000, lasted eight years as the head coach at Syracuse. He compiled a 41-55 record with two bowl trips.

Noah Fifita, Tetairoa McMillan stay loyal to Arizona amid coaching change

Top Offensive Returners: OL Josh Baker, QB Noah Fifita, WR Montana Lemonious-Craig, OL Leif Magnuson, WR Tetairoa McMillan, OL Wendell Moe Jr., OL Raymond Pulido, OL Jonah Savaiinaea

Top Defensive Returners: DB Tacario Davis, LB Justin Flowe, DB Dalton Johnson, DB Gunner Maldonado, LB Jacob Manu, DB Genesis Smith, DB Treydan Stukes, DL Ta’ita’i Uiagalelei

Once Fisch departed Tucson, it could well have been open season on the Arizona roster. A fair number of Wildcats followed their coach to the Pacific Northwest (more on that in a bit). But, all things considered, the team’s most important players shockingly stayed put.

That includes the über-talented quarterback/wide receiver pairing of Noah Fifita and Tetairoa McMillan. The duo — high school teammates at Servite in Anaheim, California — announced they had “unfinished business” in Tucson during a media timeout of the Wildcats’ men’s basketball game against UCLA on Jan. 20.

Fifita sported the fifth-best completion percentage in the Football Bowl Subdivision last year (72.4%), throwing for 2,869 yards with 25 touchdowns and six picks. McMillan ranked fifth in the nation with 1,402 receiving yards, scoring on 10 of his 90 receptions.

McMillan checks in at No. 5 on Pro Football Focus’ big board for 2025 NFL draft prospects, and he’s not the lone returning Wildcat gaining first-round traction. Cornerback Tacario Davis (No. 32), at 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, led the Pac-12 with 15 pass breakups. Offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea posted the team’s second-highest blocking grade, per PFF’s metrics, and allowed just two sacks.

All-Pac-12 linebacker Jacob Manu paced the conference with 116 tackles, surpassing double digits on five occasions. He added 9½ tackles for loss, 6½ sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and an interception. Arizona has five of its top six tacklers back, including starting safeties Dalton Johnson and Gunner Maldonado.

Arizona loses D-linemen, adds talented New Mexico running back

Transfer Portal Additions: DL Jarra Anderson (Memphis), RB Quali Conley (San Jose State), RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (New Mexico), QB Adam Damante (Northern Arizona), DL Kevon Darton (Syracuse), OL Alexander Doost (Northwestern), DB Demetrius Freeney (Miami), QB Anthony Garcia (San Jose State), DB Owen Goss (Colgate), DB Marquis Groves-Killebrew (Louisville), DL Lance Keneley (Stanford), EDGE Chase Kennedy (Utah), DB Jack Luttrell (Tennessee), DL Chubba Ma’ae (UC Davis), OL Shancco Matautia (Arizona State), WR Reymello Murphy (Old Dominion), TE Sam Olson (San Jose State), RB Kedrick Reescano (Ole Miss), OL Jonah Rodriguez (San Diego State), DB Jordan Shaw (Indiana), EDGE Tre Smith (San Jose State), OL Ryan Stewart (San Jose State), DL Stanley Ta’ufo’ou (USC), OL Michael Wooten (Oregon)

Transfer Portal Losses: LB Ammon Allen (Northern Arizona), OL Joe Borjon (San Diego State), RB Jonah Coleman (Washington), EDGE Russell Davis II (Washington), QB Jayden de Laura, WR Deric English, WR Kevin Green Jr. (Washington), WR Audric Harris (Washington), EDGE Jason Harris (Marshall), LS Kameron Hawkins (Colorado), LB Daniel Heimuli (Georgia State), DL Jacob Rich Kongaika (Arizona State), RB Adam Mohammed (Washington), DB Kanyon Moses (Northern Arizona), DL Bill Norton (Texas), OL Anthony Patt (Old Dominion), EDGE Orin Patu (Bethune-Cookman), DB Ephesians Prysock (Washington), RB Stevie Rocker Jr. (Montana), DB Cruz Rushing (Oregon), DL Tiaoalii Savea (Texas), DB Isaiah Taylor (Miami), DL Isaiah Ward (Washington), DB DJ Warnell (Indiana), RB Jordan Washington (Washington), OL Michael Watkins (Washington), QB Demond Williams Jr. (Washington), DB Charles Yates Jr. (Old Dominion)

While the narrative surrounding the Wildcats’ offseason has, justifiably, focused on the players who stayed, it bears mentioning that they suffered a handful of key departures as well.

Ephesians Prysock partnered with Davis to give Arizona one of the best cornerback tandems in college football last year, but he chose to head to Washington, as did leading rusher Jonah Coleman (871 yards, five TDs) and pass rusher Isaiah Ward (four sacks), among others. The defensive line was gutted between the portal and the draft, with interior linemen Bill Norton and Tiaoalii Savea following former coordinator Johnny Nansen to Texas.

Brennan brought reinforcements along from San Jose State, filling a big hole on the edge with All-Mountain West defensive end Tre Smith (66 tackles, 9½ TFLs, 6½ sacks). Quali Conley rushed for 842 yards and nine touchdowns, and tight end Sam Olson set career highs with 310 receiving yards and three TDs.

Arizona added a 1,000-yard rusher from the MWC in New Mexico’s Jacory Croskey-Merritt, who scored 17 touchdowns and outgained Damien Martinez, Quinshon Judkins and Jonathon Brooks on the ground. Chubba Ma’ae, Kevon Darton and Jarra Anderson will each seek to make an impact in the middle of the Wildcat defense.

Could any freshmen make an impact for Arizona?

Top Incoming Freshmen: LB Stacy Bey (Fontana, Calif.), LB Jabari Mann (San Mateo, Calif.), EDGE Eduwa Okundaye (Katy, Texas), WR Brandon Phelps (Gilbert, Ariz.), TE Dylan Tapley (Scottsdale, Ariz.)

The effects of Fisch’s exit might most be felt on the recruiting front, at least in terms of the Wildcats’ 2024 haul.

Four signees hit the transfer portal and followed their coach to Washington, including Arizona’s top two consensus recruits — quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (Chandler, Ariz.) and running back Jordan Washington (Long Beach, Calif.). Williams will be groomed behind Mississippi State transfer Will Rogers as the Huskies’ QB of the future.

In-state tight end Dylan Tapley is the highest-rated player remaining in Arizona’s freshman class. He caught 41 passes for 604 yards and nine touchdowns for Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain.

Transfers lifted Arizona to 48th in 247Sports’ overall team recruiting rankings, but it finished 84th in terms of its high school signees (15th of the Big 12’s 16 programs).