Daniel Jones didn’t hide how he felt about the Colts’ recent roster purge.
With Indianapolis in the middle of a rough 2-7 season and the trade deadline passing Tuesday, the former Duke quarterback watched the team ship out several key pieces, including DeForest Buckner, Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, and Quenton Nelson. Three of those moves hit the offense, and Jones made it clear Thursday that he wasn’t thrilled with the way things unfolded, according to FOX 59.
“As a player it’s hard to see those trades, because he knows it will be harder for him and his teammates to go out and compete,” Jones said, while also acknowledging those decisions are out of his hands. He still believes the roster can compete, but the margin just got a lot thinner after losing protection up front and two of the team’s top targets.
That matters because Downs and Allen had been the Colts’ most productive receivers. Downs finished with 33 catches for 354 yards and a touchdown, while Allen posted 40 receptions for 351 yards and a score. The next name on the list is second-year tight end Tyler Warren, who has 38 catches for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
The trade talk didn’t stop with the players Indianapolis moved. Jones himself was mentioned in rumors, along with running back Jonathan Taylor, but the Colts kept both for now despite the disappointing start.
Jones’ own path with the team has been a roller coaster. He signed a two-year, $88 million extension in the offseason after turning in a strong 2025 before suffering an Achilles injury. That injury changed everything, and this season has been a grind as he works his way back.
So far, the numbers haven’t matched the contract or the comeback story. Jones has completed 60.3% of his passes for 1,722 yards, with six touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
There was also a possible alternate landing spot in the mix. The Minnesota Vikings would have been an interesting destination for Jones, since he spent part of the 2024 season there, but Minnesota instead traded for its former quarterback Kirk Cousins.
And even with the extension in place, Jones’ long-term future in Indianapolis is still unsettled. The Colts would have an out on his contract after this season.
In Other News...
Duke Heads Into Regionals With Both NCAA Hopes On The Line
The Duke cross country teams head to the 2026 NCAA Southeast Regional Championships on Friday at the University of South Carolina Upstate with a familiar kind of pressure, as both the men and women are still chasing spots in the NCAA Championships. The womens 6k race is set for 10 a.m., followed by the mens 10k at 11, and the meet will serve as the final gatekeeper before the national stage in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Nov. 21.
For Duke, the regional is about more than just one good day on the course. The article lays out the key athletes on both squads and the path each team must navigate to keep its season alive, with qualification hinging on how they stack up against a deep Southeast field. By the end of Friday, the Blue Devils should know whether both programs have done enough to extend their postseason run. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Recruiting Just Got More Complicated Than Fans Expected
Dukes early work on the recruiting trail is already starting to take shape for the 2027 class, with three commitments in hand and a familiar mix of high-end talent and long-term upside. The Blue Devils have landed five-star forwards Kager Knueppel and Asa Montgomery, along with Australian point guard Luke Paul, giving the staff a strong foundation before the cycle has even fully opened up.
But the next wave is where things get interesting, because Duke has been active with several top 2028 prospects as well, including five-star point guard Josiah Rose, who has drawn attention from multiple programs and already taken unofficial visits to SMU. The Blue Devils have also offered Colton Hiller, Yann Kamagate, Mason Collins and Brady Pettigrew, and with some of those names potentially moving up to 2027, the board could shift quickly in ways that make this recruiting picture a lot less settled than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]
Nate Sheppard Is About To Face His Toughest ACC Test Yet
Miamis defense has spent the season making life miserable for opposing ground games, and the challenge only gets bigger with Duke coming to town. The Hurricanes lead the nation in rushing defense, a mark built around the interior work of Ahmad Moten Jr. and Justin Scott, and they have been especially good at squeezing running lanes before they ever develop. Now they get a Blue Devils offense that leans heavily on Nate Sheppard, one of the most productive backs in the country and a constant threat to turn a routine carry into a drive-changing play.
Sheppard enters the matchup as the nations second-leading rusher and the top scorer with 17 rushing touchdowns, which is exactly why Miamis defensive front keeps talking about discipline. The Hurricanes know this is not the kind of back you stop with one missed assignment, so the emphasis has been on gap control and arriving in swarms. For Duke, the question is whether Sheppard can keep doing what he has done all season against a front that has made containing the run its calling card. [Read more 🡒]