Winners and Losers from Week 2 of Indianapolis Colts Training Camp

It's hard to believe, but training camp is coming to a close. 

After two weeks of camp, including the team's first preseason game this past Sunday, the Colts' time in Anderson is just about finished. 

While training camp is fun for fans and an experience I recommend for anybody who can make the trip, there's only so much the team can do while away from team facilities and in front of thousands of fidgety Hoosiers. 

The regular season is just a few weeks away, and the action is as thick as it ever has been this offseason. 

So what new updates have come in the last week that we can note? That's what we'll look at in this week's edition of "Winners and Losers."

Winner: T.Y. Hilton

T.Y. Hilton had a fantastic rookie season. People took notice. 

Hilton's stock has been on the positive side all offseason, but it took another leap this past week. Last week when I attended training camp, Hilton and Luck were in midseason form, hitting for multiple touchdowns (including a bomb down the right sideline) against the first-team defense. 

When given snaps against Buffalo in the team's preseason opener, Hilton was fantastic, producing three catches for 61 yards, including a beautiful diving grab for a 45-yard touchdown.

The cries continue to grow louder to start Hilton over Darrius Heyward-Bey. While it may not matter who "starts," it will be an outrage if Heyward-Bey gets significantly more time on the field.

Loser: Chuck Pagano

Let me preface this by saying I really like Chuck Pagano. 

I'll also say that I love Jim Irsay as an owner. I love how dedicated he is and how he puts smart people in charge. 

But Jim Irsay's Twitter outburst earlier this week was embarrassing, both for him and for Pagano and his staff. The Colts' 44-20 preseason loss to the Bills wasn't pretty, but it didn't deserve a chewing out from the owner, especially on a public forum like Twitter. 

The preseason isn't about the final score, it's about judging players' individual performances. If Irsay is worried about fans being upset over the final score of a preseason game, there is more wrong here than we originally thought.

Overall, Pagano didn't deserve to be made an example of by Irsay. It looks bad, and it was completely unnecessary.

Winner: Ahmad Bradshaw and Pat Angerer

Both Ahmad Bradshaw and Pat Angerer were projected to start for Indianapolis before injuries forced them onto the PUP list in late September. 

The two have both missed time since, but now have been moved onto the active roster and have been cleared to practice. Both players had foot surgeries that were being recovered from and are not completely healed yet.

The Colts will take the two along slowly, not wanting to risk any long-term complications. The team experienced that last year with Angerer, after they rushed him back and saw him hurt his foot more (resulting in this past offseason's surgery). 

The Colts desperately need both players: Bradshaw brings a much-needed infusion of talent to the running back stable while Angerer plays a position currently rife with injury. 

Loser: Sheldon Price

I was a fan of Sheldon Price as a prospect when the Colts signed him as an UDFA this past year.

A playmaker while at UCLA, Price was the most experienced of the UDFA group. However, Price came in with concerns over his height causing him to stand too tall and be slow with his change of direction.

Those concerns were out in full force against the Bills. Price allowed six catches for 64 yards and a touchdown and generally looked lost on the field. That matched my evaluation of him while at training camp last week, which is not a good sign for the UDFA cornerback.

Winner: Delano Howell

With starting strong safety LaRon Landry and reserve safeties Joe Lefeged and Sergio Brown injured and watching from the sideline, Delano Howell spent most of the practice snaps with the first team. 

On Sunday, however, Howell played almost the entire game: 91 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He performed extremely well for most of the game, earning PFF's top grade for a Colt and the league's second-highest grade overall. 

Howell was a long shot to make the roster, but with the strong play lately, he may just make himself valuable. Chuck Pagano has noticed his stamina, at the very least, according to Tom James of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star: 

"

He's in excellent shape. Marathon man. Made a statement.

"

Loser: Robert Mathis

Bane is no more. 

Robert Mathis' new facemask was not approved by the league this past week, meaning he will be back to the traditional facemask.

In addition to the No Fun League taking over, Mathis also struggled in the team's preseason game, especially against the run. Mathis was only in the game for seven snaps but was absolutely demolished on the few run plays they faced. 

Mathis is well-known for being a pass-rusher first, run stopper 392nd, and teams will be looking at that weakness when going up against No. 98.

Winner: Pat McAfee

One of few Colts that was prepared to play on Sunday was punter Pat McAfee. 

McAfee pinned the Bills inside their own 20-yard line three times, two of which were inside the Bills' 10. McAfee boomed punt after punt on the day, finishing with an average distance of 51.4 yards. 

The punter has also been practicing field goals in practice, although he's yet to have the chance to put those skills to use in a game. 

McAfee's new web series, in partner with the Indianapolis Star, also received a promo this week. 

Loser: Depth

The Colts stayed clean for a few weeks, but by this point in camp, injuries are spread throughout the roster. 

Among the players that sat out Tuesday's practice, according to the Indianapolis Star: WR Griff Whalen, S LaRon Landry, CB Cassius Vaughn, S Joe Lefeged, C Khaled Holmes, G Hugh Thornton, LB Josh McNary, FB Dan Moore and CB Teddy Williams.  

The Colts also waived injured linebackers Justin Hickman and Quinton Spears, who will be placed on the injured reserve list if they make it through camp. 

There are several spots where depth is a red flag with the extra injuries, especially at linebacker and cornerback. To help assuage the fears, the Colts signed LB Monte Simmons and CB Johnny Adams, but it doesn't do much to help the team at this point. Unless something catastrophic happens (knock on wood), neither Simmons or Adams have much of a chance to make the final roster.