Daniel Jones didn’t hide how he felt about the Colts’ recent teardown.
With Indianapolis dealing away DeForest Buckner, Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, and Quenton Nelson ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, the former Duke quarterback said Thursday that watching the roster get stripped down was tough. The Colts also had trade speculation swirling around Jones and Jonathan Taylor, but held onto both for now despite a 2-7 start.
Speaking to reporters, Jones said he was not happy with the moves, via FOX 59. He made it clear why the deadline activity landed so hard from a player’s perspective: it makes the job tougher for everyone in the locker room.
At the same time, he acknowledged those decisions are out of his hands. Jones still believes the group can compete, even if losing key pieces on the offensive line and at receiver makes that a much steeper climb.
The departures hit Indianapolis’ offense directly. Downs and Allen were the team’s top two receivers, with Downs posting 33 catches for 354 yards and one touchdown, and Allen finishing with 40 receptions for 351 yards and a score. Behind them, second-year tight end Tyler Warren has 38 catches for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
Jones’ own situation has changed dramatically since the offseason. He signed a two-year, $88 million contract extension after a strong performance in 2025, only to suffer an Achilles injury. The former Blue Devils standout was rebuilding his career before that setback, and as is usually the case with that injury, he has not been as sharp this season.
Through this year, Jones has completed 60.3% of his passes for 1,722 yards, six touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
The Vikings were mentioned as a possible landing spot for Jones, since he spent part of the 2024 season there, but Minnesota traded for its former quarterback Kirk Cousins instead.
And even beyond this season, Jones’ future in Indianapolis is not locked in. The Colts would have an out on his contract.
In Other News...
Pacers Already Face A Pressure Point With Haliburton Sidelined
The Pacers are already dealing with an early-season squeeze, and Tyrese Haliburtons hamstring injury has only sharpened the focus on what this roster looks like without its engine. Indiana has opened 4-8, a rough start shaped in part by injuries, and the front office is already weighing mid-tier roster moves as it tries to steady the season before the standings get away from it.
What makes the situation tricky is that the problems are not isolated to one spot. Indiana has questions in the backcourt and the frontcourt, and the team still needs more reliable offensive support around its core while getting more from center Ivica Zubac. For a group trying to get back into playoff contention, the next move may matter almost as much as Haliburtons return. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Fans Just Got A Tough Reminder About A Recent Favorite
Doug McDermotts NBA run is over, and for Pacers fans, it brings back a familiar face from a player who seemed to keep finding his way back to Indiana. The sharpshooter, who entered the league as a first-round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, spent 12 seasons bouncing around the league and carved out a career with the Pacers, Bulls, Thunder, Knicks, Spurs and Kings.
What makes McDermotts retirement hit a little harder in Indiana is how often he reappeared in blue and gold across multiple stints. He finished his career with Sacramento, but for Pacers followers, hell be remembered as one of those useful, reliable veterans who fit into the rotation and always seemed to remain part of the conversation, even as his career kept moving from stop to stop. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers May Have Finally Found Their Formula Without Haliburton
The Pacers finally put together a cleaner night in a 114-101 win over the Wizards, and it came at a time when they badly needed something to hang onto. With Tyrese Haliburton sidelined until at least Thanksgiving, Indiana has been searching for a way to steady itself after a 4-8 start, and this was one of the more encouraging signs that the group can survive for a while without its star point guard.
What stood out was the kind of work that does not always show up first in the box score, especially on the glass and in the collective effort department. If Indiana is going to keep from slipping further in the standings while Haliburton is out, it will need more nights like this one, where the pace is manageable, the rebounding is there and the load is shared a little more evenly across the roster. [Read more 🡒]