Indianapolis Colts safety Julian Blackmon runs during practice June 5 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center in Indianapolis.

WESTFIELD – Nick Cross made a diving interception in the end zone Monday afternoon to deny the Indianapolis Colts’ first-team offense a red-zone touchdown.

It was just the third interception tossed by quarterback Anthony Richardson through eight training practices, and it was an athletic play by Cross – who is fighting for the wide-open starting job at free safety.

Moments later, one of his chief competitors in that battle – Rodney Thomas II – intercepted a pass from Joe Flacco in the end zone to stymie the second-team offense’s drive.

The twin interceptions were evidence of defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s contention the free safety competition is heating up. But the fact no clear leader has emerged in the battle nearly two weeks into training camp has to be concerning on some level.

“I think as soon as someone consistently steps up,” Bradley said of a timetable for naming a starter. “I will say this. The last about seven, eight days, we’ve seen it – that position elevate. 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.

“So I think 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 (to making a decision) right now.”

Cross took the majority of the first-team reps in Monday’s 90-minute session, but the rotation has been fairly heavy.

In addition to Thomas, Ronnie Harrison Jr. also has been in the mix with the starters.

At times, even strong safety Julian Blackmon has moved to the free safety role with Harrison or Cross playing in the box.

That’s where Harrison is most comfortable. He made 45 starts at strong safety over five seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars before joining Indianapolis’ defense last year.

Harrison played five of his seven games for the Colts in 2023 as a dime linebacker, but two of his three starts came at strong safety after Blackmon was lost to a shoulder injury.

Blackmon also fits best at strong safety, however. He had a breakout 2023 season in his first year playing the position as a pro.

The 25-year-old set career highs with 15 starts, 88 tackles, four interceptions and eight pass breakups while playing in the box a year ago. But Bradley believes Blackmon can still be effective at free safety, where he played for his first three NFL seasons, if that’s what ultimately is in the best interest of the team.

In fact, he’s seen evidence in this year’s camp. Blackmon has been a standout performer on defense, no matter where he lines up.

“We moved him back there, and he had a couple big plays for us,” Bradley said. “So, yeah, we feel confident where Julian’s at, and because he’s been in the system now a couple years, that flexibility to move him from strong to free and not lose a beat at strong – I think it gives us some different looks at different guys.”

There is some rising urgency to the proceedings.

The Colts will host the Denver Broncos for the preseason opener Sunday, and that game could help define separation in the competition.

There’s also one significant option remaining available on the free agent market.

Justin Simmons, a two-time Pro Bowler with 108 career starts over eight seasons as a free safety with the Denver Broncos, is still unsigned.

Another free agent possibility – 31-year-old two-time Pro Bowler Quandre Diggs – inked a one-year deal worth up to $5 million with the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Bradley wasn’t asked about any outside help Monday – and likely wouldn’t have been able to provide any sort of detailed answer any way.

For now, the rotation will continue as Indianapolis explores its in-house options and tries to find the right match.

“It’s about that personnel placement,” Bradley said. “Just look at different combinations. Julian at free, Nick at strong, Julian at free and Ronnie at strong – and then moving those guys around, So it’s just really looking at the different combinations and how they play together.”