The mood around the Colts has taken another hard turn, and the latest SB Nation Reacts survey makes that plain. Only 19 percent of fans said they believe the franchise is headed in the right direction, a sharp drop from 31 percent last week and a stunning fall from 47 percent just two weeks ago, right after general manager Chris Ballard was fired.
That swing says a lot about how quickly the brief post-Ballard optimism has faded. Indianapolis has now lost four straight and sits at 2-6 after Sunday’s 42-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The game was never competitive. The Colts were down 28-0 at halftime and finished with their most lopsided defeat of the season.
With Daniel Jones struggling on offense and the defense offering little consistency, there hasn’t been much on the field to suggest a turnaround is coming anytime soon.
The front office’s recent moves have only deepened the uncertainty. Last week, Indianapolis dealt Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, sending two of its most accomplished veterans away in exchange for future draft capital.
Those trades may help down the road, but they also make the direction of the franchise feel even clearer: this is looking more like a rebuild than a push to compete right now. And with no first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft and a number of major roster questions still hanging out there, fans have plenty of reason to wonder how fast this can realistically be fixed.
That doesn’t necessarily mean supporters are rejecting the bigger reset altogether. The frustration with the previous regime still lingers, and these numbers suggest that firing Ballard alone was never going to solve everything.
What the Colts need now is a real plan - one that shows how they’re going to build a roster that can actually win again. The next several months will go a long way toward deciding whether that confidence comes back.
The survey also asked a much bigger question: should the Colts trade Jonathan Taylor before the November 10 deadline? Fans answered loudly. Seventy-three percent supported moving the star running back.
That’s a striking number for a player who remains one of the NFL’s premier backs and, arguably, the most important piece of Indianapolis’ offense. Taylor is under contract through 2028, and he’s still producing at a high level. But with the Colts possibly several years away from serious contention, the fit between his prime and the team’s timeline is now very much in question.
There’s also no shortage of interest. Multiple contenders have reportedly checked in, and the Colts are believed to be looking for a first-round pick or a package on that level. If they get it, the move would bring in another major stash of draft capital for the next general manager.
Still, there’s a case for keeping him. Indianapolis already lacks established weapons on offense, and another quarterback change could be on the way. Taylor has also said he wants to win in Indianapolis and has not asked out, which sets his situation apart from players actively pushing for a new home.
Even so, the fan response is hard to miss. A clear majority would be on board with another major trade if it speeds up the rebuild. Whether the Colts get an offer strong enough to pull the trigger is the next question, and with the deadline closing in, it’s another decision that could shape the franchise’s future.
In Other News...
Colts Still Have A Sauce Gardner Debate Fans Cant Ignore
Sauce Gardner has given the Colts what they hoped for when they swung the deal, giving the secondary a proven cornerback who can still tilt a game on the outside. The move was bold from the start, the kind of front-office gamble that invites instant comparison to other recent defensive trades around the league, especially when a team is trying to accelerate its timeline instead of waiting for a homegrown solution.
The debate now is less about whether Gardner can play and more about what Indianapolis gave up to get him, especially with the trade being viewed through the lens of what has happened since. Even with Gardner performing well, the broader verdict has grown harsher because the Colts have had to live with the cost while also navigating the injuries and setbacks that followed, which is why this one still lingers as a front-office decision fans cannot quite let go. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Still Waiting On Two Crucial Calls Before Colts Game
The Cowboys are still sorting through two key injury situations as they prepare for their Week 9 matchup with the Colts, with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and wide receiver George Pickens both limited in practice. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said both players are hopeful to suit up, but each is still being described as a bit limited as Dallas works through the final stretch of the week.
Their availability matters for a Cowboys team trying to line up as close to full strength as possible before facing Indianapolis. Porters ankle and Pickens hamstring have kept the picture cloudy for now, and the final injury report should give a clearer read on whether either can go or whether Dallas will have to adjust again before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Fans Know What Sunday Could Mean For Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones walked into the week with the usual quarterback noise swirling around him, and the timing only sharpened the focus. Ahead of the Colts game against the Cowboys, he addressed the speculation around his starting job and kept coming back to the same point: his preparation stays consistent, and it puts him in position to play his normal way when Sunday arrives.
For Indianapolis, the stakes are obvious. Jones is under pressure because of the questions surrounding his performance, and Anthony Richardson is still sitting there as the obvious alternative if the Colts decide they need a different look. No official change has been announced, but this is the kind of week that can turn a routine start into something much bigger for a quarterback and the team watching him. [Read more 🡒]