Daniel Jones’ second act with the Colts has hit a rough patch, and the latest quarterback rankings show just how far things have slid.
Entering Week 8, the former Duke standout is No. 32 in Nick Shook’s NFL.com quarterback rankings, down three spots from a week earlier. It’s the bottom of the list, a tough marker for a player who once entered the league as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft and was supposed to steady the New York Giants at quarterback.
Jones has had flashes along the way, including a trip to the playoffs with the Giants in 2022, but consistency has never quite stuck. After New York moved on, he landed with the Indianapolis Colts and has been their starter the last two years. That stretch has been uneven, and this season has only deepened the concern.
He returned after missing time because of a torn Achilles that ended his 2025 season, but the comeback has not gone as planned. Through the first part of this year, Jones has thrown for 1,398 yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions, and Indianapolis sits at 2-5. The Colts have also become one of the worst teams in football, with the organization in the middle of a complete fire sale of the roster.
The situation leaves Jones’ future squarely in view. Indianapolis gave him a 2-year, $88 million extension this offseason, so he still has one year left on the deal. That makes the offseason decision harder, especially for a team that doesn’t have much to lean on moving forward.
For now, though, the numbers tell the story: Jones is last in this ranking, and his play has the Colts in a bind.
In Other News...
Duke Just Added Intrigue To A Wide-Open Recruiting Battle With UNC
Jon Scheyer has added another layer to Dukes early 2028 recruiting push, extending an official scholarship offer to Brady Pettigrew, the highly regarded junior combo guard from Bolingbrook High School in Illinois. Pettigrew already has more than 35 offers, and his list of schools has turned into the kind of national battle that usually defines a top prospect long before a signing day ever comes into view.
For Duke, the timing matters because the Blue Devils are already building around a 2028 class that includes four other top prospects, even if none have committed yet. Pettigrews interest in multiple programs, including Duke and UNC, keeps this one firmly in the spotlight for both fan bases, with the early recruiting race still wide open and plenty of time for the picture to change. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Carries Momentum Into A Notre Dame Test With Bigger Stakes
Duke heads into its regular-season finale at Notre Dame with some real momentum after turning in a strong stretch against two of the ACCs biggest names. The Blue Devils picked up a win over Virginia and followed it with a draw against North Carolina, a stretch that has helped steady the group as it reaches the most important part of the season. Ethan Congleton and Jack Ottley have led the way in points, giving Duke the kind of top-end production it has needed to stay on track.
The bigger picture now is less about finishing the regular season and more about what the Blue Devils can take into postseason play, and the test at Alumni Stadium arrives with that in mind. Duke is still managing several injuries, which adds another layer of importance to how it handles this final tune-up against Notre Dame. Even with the lineup uncertainty, the recent form suggests the Blue Devils have given themselves a chance to carry something useful into the tournament run. [Read more 🡒]
Sebastian Wilkins Is Becoming A Quietly Important Piece For Duke
Sebastian Wilkins arrived at Duke a year early after reclassifying for the 2025 roster, then took a patient path through his first season as a redshirt. Now in his second year in the program, he has moved into a meaningful role off the bench, giving the Blue Devils a flexible option as they sort out their rotation and look for dependable minutes behind the starters.
Through exhibition play, Wilkins has been producing 21 minutes, 9 points and 5 rebounds a game, a sign that his game is translating into real trust from the staff. Jon Scheyer has pointed to Wilkins attitude and versatility, and that combination appears likely to keep him in the mix as Duke leans on him as a backup on the wing and at the four spot. [Read more 🡒]