INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts have been looking for somebody to make a play at free safety.

Somebody other than Julian Blackmon.

Indianapolis is holding an open battle for the starting spot next to Blackmon, auditioning third-year safety Nick Cross, veteran Ronnie Harrison and former starter Rodney Thomas II, as well as tinkering with the idea of moving Blackmon back to free safety after his breakout year at the strong safety position.

“I will say this, the last seven, eight days, we’ve seen that position elevate,” defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. “That’s what we were kind of hoping. Create a lot of competition there, and then just see if the cream comes to the top.”

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Cross, who has been given the most chances to work with Blackmon and the starters, finally made the play the Colts wanted to see on Monday.

Facing off against the No. 1 offense in a red zone, end-of-game situation, Cross ranged back on a throw up the seam from Anthony Richardson and dove, picking it off before it could get to the waiting arms of tight end Kylen Granson.

Not to be outdone, Thomas ended the No. 2 offense’s drive with an interception of his own, taking advantage of a do-or-die situation to pick off Joe Flacco in the end zone.

The plays were encouraging.

Now, one of the young safeties needs to start making plays like that regularly to win the job.

“As soon as someone consistently steps up,” Bradley said. “I don’t think we’re anytime close right now.”

Highs and lows

An emphasis on the red zone put Richardson and the offense in a handful of high-pressure situations Monday.

The results were mixed. Richardson’s first few dropbacks in the red zone were marred by a Kwity Paye “sack” and a drop by rookie wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, but Richardson bounced back, tossing touchdown passes to Mo Alie-Cox and Kylen Granson.

A strike to a sliding Mitchell in 11-on-11 was arguably the rookie’s best play of training camp, followed by an end-zone throw to Josh Downs that was broken up by an incredible play from linebacker E.J. Speed, another Paye sack with the help of DeForest Buckner and then the interception by Cross.

The Speed play was impressive, a linebacker dropping deep to take away a touchdown.

“I call that the red button, whenever you can’t see the ball, he can see the ball and you’re pretty much just waiting on his hands to come up,” nickel back Kenny Moore II said. “You’ve got to slap it and be aggressive through the point of contact. It takes a great level of poise.”

Handed another chance in the red zone, Richardson opened with completions to Michael Pittman Jr. and a gorgeous, tight-window throw to Kylen Granson to get the offense a first-and-goal at the 2-yard line, but his next two chances after a spike to stop the clock were foiled by the inability of Alec Pierce and Mitchell to seal Moore and Harrison away from the ball on throws to the end zone.

Facing a fourth down and no risk with the clock, Indianapolis asked Richardson to take it himself, and he punched it in up the middle for a touchdown. On the next play, the 2-point conversion, Richardson rolled right, couldn’t find a receiver and took off for the pylon, only to be met by a charging Moore, who was adamant he would have taken Richardson down short of the goal line, an opinion shared by the referee.

Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter tried to suggest after practice that Richardson would have made it into the end zone.

“Jim Bob’s extremely biased,” Moore joked after the practice. “I think he’ll tell the truth on that one.”

Richardson ultimately finished 5 of 11 with two "sacks," one of his incompletions coming as he continued the play after the “sack.”

Run game rolls

One day after the offense struggled as a whole, the combination of Richardson, Jonathan Taylor and Trey Sermon got it going a little bit in the ground game.

Taylor had several nice carries, picking his way through the middle of the line and exploding into the secondary. Richardson had a pair of nice scrambles, picking up roughly eight and 10 yards, respectively, before the touchdown at the end of practice.

Sermon put together a nice run for the second consecutive day, adding a little momentum to his camp so far.

Injury report

Veteran defensive back Chris Lammons was activated off the physically unable to perform list on Monday morning and thrown right into the fire in the afternoon, playing a full workload on special teams and defense. Lammons had been finishing up his recovery from offseason ankle surgery.

Defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo (calf), linebacker Jaylon Carlies (hip), tight end Will Mallory (hamstring) and linebacker Liam Anderson did not practice due to injury.

Veteran Raekwon Davis, one of the team’s few outside signings in free agency, remains on the non-football illness list due to high blood pressure discovered when he reported for training camp.

Quick hitters

Granson finished with three catches and two touchdowns in the red zone. …  Rookie cornerback Jaylon Simpson broke up at least one pass and added another potential breakup later in the practice, showcasing his aggressive nature. … Punt returners were Anthony Gould, Downs and Ethan Fernea. … Undrafted free agent quarterback Jason Bean has plenty of speed, and it’s shown up several times in the developmental periods for players at the end of the roster.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts camp sees Young safeties finally make plays in position battle