The Indianapolis Colts are running out of comfortable options, and Daniel Jones sits at the center of the mess.
After Sunday’s 16-10 loss to the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in Week 7, Indianapolis fell to 2-5, and the quarterback situation has only gotten murkier. Jones signed a two-year contract extension, but the production hasn’t come close to matching the bet the Colts made on him.
Through seven games, Jones has completed 59.6 percent of his passes for 1,398 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s added 68 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, but those numbers haven’t done much to steady a team that looks increasingly adrift.
The financial fallout is just as ugly. If Indianapolis moves on from Jones, the Colts would be stuck with about $35.2 million in dead salary-cap charges next season. That kind of number makes a clean breakup hard to stomach, even if the on-field results are pushing the team in that direction.
Still, head coach Shane Steichen isn’t backing away from his quarterback.
“I’m not considering a quarterback change,” Steichen said after Sunday’s defeat. “I’ve got a ton of faith in Daniel.”
That stance keeps the Colts tied to Jones for now, even as the franchise faces bigger questions elsewhere. The team already fired general manager Chris Ballard, adding another layer of uncertainty to a season that keeps tilting the wrong way.
With the November 10 trade deadline closing in, Indianapolis may have to decide whether to keep trying to patch things together or start stripping the roster down. Jonathan Taylor has surfaced as a possible trade candidate, and Quenton Nelson, Grover Stewart and Keenan Allen have also come up in trade talk.
A seller’s approach could bring in draft capital, but it would also mean moving out proven players and leaning into a longer reset. That’s the uncomfortable spot the Colts are in now: keep waiting on Jones to deliver, or accept that the current plan isn’t working and brace for a bigger reboot.
For now, Indianapolis heads into Week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 4-2, with the pressure only getting heavier.
In Other News...
Anthony Richardson Just Added To The Colts Biggest Uncertainty
The Colts were already dealing with one of the leagues more watchful quarterback situations, and Anthony Richardson Sr. has now added another layer of uncertainty off the field. The backup passer was charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession after a traffic stop in Carmel, Indiana, putting an unwelcome spotlight on a player whose role has already carried plenty of attention in Indianapolis.
Richardson briefly addressed the matter, calling it an ongoing legal issue and offering no regret when asked about it. The Colts said they are gathering information and will let the legal process play out, with any possible league discipline expected only after that is resolved. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Kicking Nightmare Came Down To One Costly Breakdown
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Luke Rhodes, meanwhile, made clear the Colts are not ready to give up on him. The long snapper backed his teammate after the game, offering confidence despite the missed kicks and the sudden spotlight that followed a breakdown in a phase the Colts usually count on for stability. For a team trying to keep its footing, the concern is not just what went wrong in Minnesota, but how quickly it can be fixed. [Read more 🡒]
Anthony Richardson Is Running Out Of Chances To Save His NFL Future
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Indianapolis has already moved on in practice and planning with Daniel Jones, which only sharpens the question around Richardsons place in the organization. The talent is still there, and so is the possibility that another team could believe it can unlock him, but the same issues have defined his career so far: accuracy, footwork and decision-making. At this point, the Colts need more than upside from a quarterback who has spent most of his first three years trying to prove he can become the player they drafted. [Read more 🡒]