Colts observations: Ballard limping (again), Gore running hard (again)

• Wednesday at Colts camp: Colts City, 5-9:30 p.m..; practice, 6:25-9:10 p.m.

 ANDERSON – A few observations from the Colts’ third day of training camp on Tuesday:

>> We’d seen this before. Vick Ballard, limping. Vick Ballard, talking to the team doctors. Vick Ballard, watching from the sideline.

The Colts’ oft-injured running back, the same running back who’s missed 36 games to injury the past two seasons, came up gingerly and grabbed his right hamstring after hauling in a nice catch down the sideline early in Tuesday’s practice.

Ballard then talked with Colts team doctors and watched the remainder of the workout from the sideline. He was seen stretching out his right leg, jogging around and walking without any noticeable pain. The official word after practice, from coach Chuck Pagano, was a tightened hamstring. The injury doesn’t appear to be nearly as serious as the anterior cruciate ligament tear (2013) or shredded Achilles tendon (2013) that have derailed Ballard’s career the past two seasons.

But it was nonetheless a setback for a player Colts fans seem to be holding their collective breath for every time he hits a hole or runs through a drill. This is a career-defining year for Ballard, and it’s imperative he stays healthy. He made it through two days of camp injury-free. He didn’t make a third.

It’s expected the Colts remain cautious with Ballard. Assuming there is no tear or strain, the Colts will still likely still hold him out a few days just to be safe.

>> It’s tough playing defense these days. They can’t touch the quarterback. Can’t touch the running back. Can barely touch the receivers.

The Colts slipped on shoulder pads for the first time Tuesday, and they’ll wear full pads for the first time in training camp for Wednesday night’s practice, but make no mistake: This isn’t full-out football. The overarching objective is to get 53 healthy players ready for the regular season opener. That means taking it easier during camp.

The rules, which have to irk defenders to some degree: Quarterbacks and running backs aren’t to be hit. Touch football, anyone? That’s no fun for the heavy hitters.

(This was apparent after practice. A few of the defensive players were ribbing the offense -- good-naturedly -- about the "halos" that keep them from wrapping up and tackling quarterbacks and running backs. The underlying message: We can't wait for full pads.)

All of which makes a play made on Tuesday all the more impressive. Safety Mike Adams, a Pro Bowler last season, intercepted a deep pass intended for rookie first-round pick Phillip Dorsett early in the workout. It called to mind Adams’ prowess in the secondary last year, when he tied for the league lead in takeaways with seven.

They might not be able to hit, but they can still swipe passes out of the air.

Worth noting: That throw was made by back-up quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Starter Andrew Luck has yet to throw an interception during 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 work through the first three days of practice.

>> If you’re a running back and you’re 32 years old, that probably means one of three things:

1) You’re reminiscing on a career gone by.

2) You’re waiting for a phone call from a team who’s lost a rusher to injury.

3) You’re coaching from the sideline.

Frank Gore’s 32 and he’s doing none of the above.

What is he doing?

“Running the ball like he’s 22,” said cornerback Greg Toler.

And it’s easy to tell. Gore hits the hole with the speed and ferocity of a first-round pick without any tread on his tires. It’s something we rarely — if ever — saw with Trent Richardson the past two seasons.

The difference in the way they attack the line of scrimmage is distinct. It’s early, and the defense isn’t quite yet allowed to go full speed, but returns on Gore are encouraging. He might just be the missing link the Colts need him to be.

>> The Colts held out the following players Tuesday: Linebacker Robert Mathis and guard Donald Thomas (who both remain on the preseason Physically Unable to Perform list), wide receiver Andre Johnson, cornerback Vontae Davis, linebackers D’Qwell Jackson, Bjoern Werner, Nate Irving and Henoc Muamba, and defensive tackle Jeris Pendleton.

>> Colts coach Chuck Pagano sported a No. 29 jersey T-shirt on Tuesday in support of Eric Berry, the Kansas City Chiefs safety who beat Hodgkin’s lymphoma and recently returned to the practice field.

Pagano successfully beat leukemia during the 2012 season.

>> Practice attendance for Tuesday’s session was 2,782. That puts the three-day total at 11,753.

Call Star reporter Zak Keefer at (317) 444-6134 and follow him on Twitter: @zkeefer.