INDIANAPOLIS — A month after Daniel Jones sustained a torn proper Achilles tendon, along with his rehabilitation barely underway and his decrease leg nonetheless completely immobilized, the Indianapolis Colts quarterback was wheeling his manner round NRG Stadium in Houston, roughly 1,000 miles away from the comforts of his front room.
Jones did not should be there.
It was the ultimate recreation of the season, with the Colts already eradicated from the playoffs. And navigating his manner onto the group flight, along with his proper leg of little use to him, couldn’t have been simple. What’s extra, Jones is headed for potential free company within the spring, as he’s not beneath contract with the Colts for 2026.
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And, but, there was, doing what he might to assist rookie quarterback Riley Leonard, conducting himself like a participant very a lot invested in his group.
“He is in each assembly,” coach Shane Steichen mentioned just a few days previous to the season finale. “… He comes to each observe. He is at all times round. Nonetheless within the QB conferences. Off days, he is within the QB room, learning the tape, making ready, regardless that he is not taking part in. Nonetheless going by means of every little thing. So, he is nonetheless absolutely engaged.”
When requested about his presence, Jones joked, “It isn’t like I would be doing the rest.”
The entire scene mentioned fairly a bit about Jones’ intentions for the longer term. He desires to be in Indianapolis, and the Colts need him there.
However that is the place the questions start.
Amongst them: How will negotiations play out given Jones’ vital harm? Does signing Jones to a multiyear deal make sense, and the way a lot skepticism ought to the Colts have that Jones will probably be prepared for the beginning of the 2026 season?
Jones had a profession 12 months within the 13 video games he performed earlier than his harm, with profession highs in passing yards (3,101), yards per try (8.1), completion charge (68%) and QBR (63.5). He is aware of coming again to Indianapolis to pair with Steichen and his offensive experience is sensible.
“I discovered loads, I feel, simply being round these coaches,” Jones mentioned, “being within the system, studying from Shane, studying from all people right here. Very, very grateful and appreciative of everybody and the expertise right here.”
On the identical time, Jones acknowledges the realities that lie forward.
“Clearly, there is a enterprise facet to it, and I perceive that,” he mentioned.
When Jones was rolling alongside pre-injury, with the Colts lighting up scoreboards and rating among the many greatest offenses within the league in quite a few classes, Jones appeared headed for a really profitable deal within the spring. However the harm complicates issues at the least slightly, even when the Colts keep he’ll emerge simply positive.
Requested whether or not the harm impacts the negotiations, common supervisor Chris Ballard mentioned, “After all. However we’ll work by means of that along with his agent.”
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There are certain to be some variables that can should be confronted throughout contract talks. The Colts, for instance, would possibly want to be conservative with assured cash given the uncertainty the harm creates. How Jones’ camp responds is a key query. If consensus is difficult to realize, does the franchise tag — projected to be north of $45 million for one 12 months — come into play?
A associated concern: What’s the acceptable size of the contract? The Colts suppose Jones has the potential to be an answer at quarterback for the foreseeable future, with Ballard saying, “I am him each close to and lengthy [term]. … If you’re chasing the quarterback on a regular basis, it makes it very laborious. Like, your margin for error actually shrinks down. And I really feel excellent about Daniel Jones and the place he is at, the place he is going.”
As for the harm itself, the Colts are extraordinarily optimistic. Jones, for his half, has little doubt concerning the final result regardless of the harm occurring on Dec. 7.
“I feel, clearly, it is a lengthy course of in restoration and there is a time-frame to it,” he mentioned. “You have to test quite a lot of bins alongside the way in which, however I anticipate to be able to go by coaching camp. So, we’ll assault the method and ensure I am able to go.”
Stated Ballard: “I do really feel assured that he’ll make it again. Will he be the model you noticed straight away? Possibly not, however he is nonetheless going to be actually good. I feel as he goes alongside and performs, he’ll be positive.”
Are the Colts being too assured about Jones’ availability for the beginning of the 2026 season? The Colts are taking their cues from different quarterbacks who’ve efficiently bounced again from the harm.
That listing consists of Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins, who tore an Achilles in Week 8 of the 2023 season and returned for the beginning of 2024 season. He performed at a suitable degree, finishing 65% of his makes an attempt and averaging 216 passing yards per recreation within the first month of the season.
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Aaron Rodgers, then with the New York Jets, had a full 12 months to get better from an Achilles harm heading into the 2024 season. He began effectively sufficient, finishing 64.1% of his makes an attempt and averaging 212 passing yards in his first month again. Rodgers has supplied Jones recommendation on attacking his rehab throughout cellphone conversations within the weeks since Jones was injured.
However there are additionally horror tales, like that of Cleveland’s Deshaun Watson. He re-ruptured his Achilles throughout rehab following his authentic October 2024 harm. That concern is taken into account a uncommon incidence amongst athletes who endure surgical restore, as Jones and these different quarterbacks have.
The Colts are nonetheless evaluating what different quarterback strikes they may make, however they presently appear inclined to contemplate Leonard as a backup choice to Jones within the occasion there are delays in his restoration. The way forward for Anthony Richardson Sr., the group’s 2023 first-round choose, is unsure.
In any case, barring a shocking flip of occasions, Jones would be the Colts’ beginning quarterback in 2026.
Stated Ballard: “I feel Daniel Jones has obtained a extremely vivid future right here in Indianapolis.”
