JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Daniel Jones limped off the sector and into the tunnel resulting in the locker room of dejected Indianapolis Colts. He was rain-soaked, raveled and had simply sustained a proper torn Achilles a pair hours prior. The expression he wore after Sunday’s 36-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars was the proper illustration of his group’s bleak predicament.
The Colts (8-5), already within the midst of a precipitous slide after beginning the season with the NFL’s finest report at 7-1, now face an extended checklist of sophisticated questions within the wake of Jones’ critical damage. A torn Achilles, which is what a supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter Jones suffered, can take so long as a 12 months to totally get well from, elevating thorny points associated to the way forward for the place in Indianapolis. And given the unraveling of the Colts’ season, what may a disappointing end imply for the group’s management, its veteran gamers and everybody concerned?
With Jones headed for season-ending surgical procedure and months of rehab, listed here are the crucial questions caused by Jones’ devastating damage.
What occurs within the rapid time period?
For now, rookie backup Riley Leonard takes the reins, and that places the Colts in a tricky spot. Leonard was drafted within the sixth spherical out of Notre Dame with the group viewing him as a developmental quarterback. He was the third-string possibility till a scary pregame accident involving quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr., who sustained an orbital fracture to his face after a mishap involving stretching bands in October. Richardson stays on injured reserve.
Leonard has been the No. 2 quarterback ever since. And whereas he has labored diligently and has made important strides — simply final week Leonard spent a late night at Jones’ home doing further recreation prep — one of many major strengths of the Colts’ offense was Jones’ potential to course of conditions shortly and precisely and make sound selections. Leonard will likely be hard-pressed to duplicate that given his inexperience.
Towards the Jags, Leonard accomplished 18 of 29 makes an attempt for 145 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Leonard additionally rushed for a rating. However 16 of Leonard’s makes an attempt had been 5 yards or fewer down the sector, in accordance with ESPN Analysis.
Leonard did present the sport wasn’t too large for him, and he’ll must exhibit that once more if he makes his first begin subsequent Sunday on the Seattle Seahawks. Within the rapid aftermath of the sport, Leonard was already getting important help from his teammates.
“Having guys like [All-pro guard] Quenton Nelson come as much as me and say he believes in me,” Leonard mentioned, “Everyone on the sideline was so supportive. That is at all times good for a rookie quarterback.”
What’s subsequent at quarterback for Indy?
The Colts had been having inside discussions a few contract extension for Jones lengthy earlier than they turned the most well liked offense within the NFL. By eight video games, the Colts had been averaging six extra factors than some other group and had been producing 6.5 yards per play, on tempo for one of many highest marks in franchise historical past.
Jones was the important thing to unlocking all of it, along with his effectivity, correct passing and execution of coach Shane Steichen’s good schemes. Jones appeared like a solution to the Colts’ yearslong uncertainty at quarterback. However now, every part about his future is in query.
He’s scheduled to turn into a free agent within the spring, when his one-year contract expires. However he will likely be removed from a return to the sector at that time, and his standing for subsequent season is, at finest, in query.
Do the Colts take an opportunity and signal him to a decreased contract? Do they appear elsewhere? Can they even rely on him for 2026?
These solutions are a great distance off, however the impression Jones has made on the Colts was clear within the response to his damage.
“That is our group chief,” receiver Alec Pierce mentioned. “That is our group captain proper there. All the pieces runs by him. That was brutal.”
Price noting is that Richardson stays below contract for 2026. His future has been in query since he misplaced a preseason place battle with Jones. However Sunday’s developments may change issues for him. Richardson confirmed enchancment by coaching camp and continues to be simply 23 years outdated.
What if the season unravels?
In some ways, it’s already unraveling. The Colts began Sunday in a tie for first place within the AFC South, however Jacksonville (9-4) now sits alone atop the division. The Colts dropped to the periphery of the wild-card standings after the loss.
So, after a outstanding begin that had Indianapolis with the most effective report within the NFL, how will a collapse down the stretch mirror on the lads in command of the group?
The futures of normal supervisor Chris Ballard and Steichen had been in query after final season’s 8-9 end. However the late proprietor Jim Irsay, who handed away in Might, agreed to offer the pair yet another shot in 2025.
Shedding a beginning quarterback in Week 14 with the playoffs nonetheless inside attain definitely complicates the analysis course of. However issues had been already slipping away even earlier than Jones’ damage. Nothing that is occurred in latest weeks displays properly on the group’s brass, and will probably be a tough evaluation if the Colts cannot end sturdy in its remaining video games in opposition to the Seahawks, Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans. The mixed report of these groups is 39-14.
What’s the impression of possession adjustments?
The subplot to all of that is that every one the tough selections forward of the Colts will likely be made by totally different decision-makers.
Irsay’s oldest daughter, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, and her sisters, Casey Foyt and Kalen Jackson, at the moment are major homeowners. How they are going to course of what’s occurred is not sure. Jim Irsay was typically vulnerable to emotional and abrupt selections, however his daughters are seen as way more pragmatic.
Nonetheless they select to proceed, the Colts usually are not in an optimum scenario. Jones’ damage is compounded by the absence of their first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, which the group not too long ago traded to the New York Jets for cornerback Sauce Gardner in an effort to make a deep playoff run this season.
The Colts additionally must navigate the futures of core gamers. Pierce and defensive finish Kwity Paye are getting into free company, receiver Michael Pittman Jr.’s salary-cap determine jumps to $29 million and operating again Jonathan Taylor is due an extension (2026 is the ultimate season of his contract).
A single damage has led to a mess of questions for which there aren’t any rapid solutions.
