WESTFIELD -- After Nick Cross pounced on Josh Downs' ankle during a 7-on-7 play, Colts coach Shane Steichen sprinted over to his free safety with a few choice words.

After the practice ended and Downs was going through imaging to confirm a high ankle sprain, the two had another conversation about the play.

"I had a conversation with Nick after practice that I'll keep private," Steichen said, "but the bottom line is it's a 7-on-7 period and we've got to stay up."

It's unclear when the conversation took place, as Cross also spoke publicly shortly after Wednesday's practice and said he would not have done anything different on the play just because it's 7-on-7.

"We’re competing," Cross said. "We're playing football at the end of the day. ... Josh is my guy. I love that boy to death."

Steichen acknowledged he needs to re-emphasis the message about safety in light of Cross' comments.

"Absolutely," Steichen said.

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A 2022 third-round pick out of Maryland now in his third training camp, Cross is locked in a deep battle to become the Colts' starting free safety. Indianapolis has spent its 10 training camp practices mixing and matching on the back end, including moving Julian Blackmon from strong to free safety at times in order to try new combinations.

Steichen and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley have publicly called on the group to create more plays, and Cross has increased his intensity in recent days in hopes of showcasing a skill set that can run a 4.34-second 40-yard dash, ranked in the top 1% of all safety prospects since 1987, according to Relative Athletic Score. Despite those measurables, Cross is trying to become a starter for just the fifth game in his career.

Cross intercepted Anthony Richardson in 11-on-11 practice on Monday, one practice before the moment with Downs.

On Friday, the Colts started Cross at free safety in the first 11-on-11 setting, but he failed to cover Trey Sermon as he leaked out of the backfield for a walk-in touchdown. By the next series, Rodney Thomas II took his spot on the first team and Cross moved to the second team. On the third series, Blackmon moved to free safety and Ronnie Harrison Jr. took his spot at strong safety.

The Colts are mixing in matching their current safeties despite last year's second-team All-Pro still sitting on the free agent market. Justin Simmons took a visit with the Saints this week, and the 30-year-old remains unsigned despite 108 career starts and four appearances on an All-Pro team.

Meanwhile, the Colts have stuck with an experiment that seems to take a new twist every couple of days.

In addition to wanting more plays on the back end, the coaches are also preaching a trust level that can allow young outside cornerbacks such as JuJu Brents and Jaylon Jones to play aggressively in zone coverage.

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“I think as soon as someone consistently steps up," defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said when asked when he'll pick a starter at free safety. "... Once we feel good about, all right, this is the direction we're going to go, then we'll go. But I don't think we're any time close right now.”

The tests are about to involve some opponents now, as the Colts have three preseason games and three joint practices against other teams in the next two weeks. That's when Indianapolis hopes to see some separation.

"I think we've got to get to the games," assistant general manager Ed Dodds said. "We're just trying to find the best combination to get all the best people out there at the same time. ... It's figuring not just the best combination of two guys but which guy at free and which at strong, since there are different things stressed out of either one of those positions. ... We've just got to keep watching them."

Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Josh Downs injury: Shane Steichen on Nick Cross hit that caused injury