Daniel Jones’ comeback with the Indianapolis Colts is tracking the way the team wants it to, and Shane Steichen says the former Duke quarterback is moving in the right direction after his torn Achilles.
Steichen gave the latest update on August 11 during an appearance on the "Pat McAfee Show," and he sounded encouraged by what he’s seen from Jones in camp.
"Daniel Jones attacked his rehab the right way and he's looked really good so far," Steichen said. "He's only getting stronger."
That’s welcome news for a quarterback whose path has already taken a few sharp turns. Jones spent three seasons at Duke, where he completed 59.9 percent of his passes for 8,201 yards, 52 touchdowns and 29 interceptions. He also added 1,323 rushing yards and 17 scores on the ground.
The New York Giants took him No. 6 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, and while he showed flashes there, the inconsistency eventually caught up with him. He left New York during the 2024 campaign, then signed with the Minnesota Vikings but never got into a game.
Jones found another opportunity heading into the 2025 offseason, this time with Indianapolis. It turned into the kind of fit he was looking for.
Before the injury cut things short, he appeared in 13 games for the Colts and posted a strong line: 68 percent completions, 3,101 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also ran for 164 yards and five touchdowns.
For now, the Colts are being careful with his recovery. Jones has already been ruled out for the preseason opener against the New England Patriots this week, but the expectation is that he’ll be ready for Week 1.
If camp and the rest of the preseason keep going this way, Jones will get the chance to show that his best football in Indianapolis is still ahead of him.
In Other News...
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Dukes offense is entering camp with a different look after Darian Mensahs transfer to Miami, and Manny Diaz has already signaled that the quarterback job is not settled. San Jose State transfer Walker Eget and redshirt freshman Dan Mahan are both in the mix, giving the Blue Devils a real choice as they sort out who is best equipped to steer the unit into the upcoming season.
The broader plan appears to lean on the ground game anyway, with Nate Sheppard and CJ Campbell Jr. expected to be central pieces. Still, the quarterback decision matters because it could shape how much versatility Duke can build into the offense, and Mahans profile adds a different kind of intrigue to a race that is just beginning to take form. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Offense Takes A New Turn As Quarterback Battle Looms
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Nate Sheppard looks like the player most likely to benefit if that plan takes hold. After a strong season, he is positioned to be a major part of the backfield approach, giving Duke a proven runner to build around while the team sorts out who will lead the offense under center. [Read more 🡒]
Duke's Rebuilt Secondary Already Faces Pressure To Fix A Costly Problem
Competition in Dukes secondary is already shaping the tone of preseason camp, and safety DaShawn Stone has been at the center of it after the Blue Devils sixth practice in 2026. The redshirt junior returns as one of the groups most established voices after starting all 14 games last season, piling up 86 tackles and two interceptions while earning Fourth Team Preseason All-ACC recognition. Across 32 career games, he has become one of the defenses steadier pieces, and that experience matters even more with new faces working into the back end.
The challenge now is turning that depth into cleaner results in the spots that hurt most a year ago, especially on third downs. Duke has leaned on transfer additions to help reshape the unit, but Stone also pointed to the role linebacker leadership can play in making the whole defense tighter and more consistent. For a secondary trying to settle quickly, the early days of camp are less about comfort than urgency, because the Blue Devils know the margin for another costly breakdown is already thin. [Read more 🡒]