The Daniel Jones experiment in Indianapolis looked very different a year ago than it does right now.
In 2025, Jones arrived on a one-year deal and found a rhythm almost immediately, helping the Colts race to an unexpected 8-2 start. His ability to hurt defenses as a runner and passer fit cleanly in a high-powered offense. This season, though, has been a much rougher ride for a quarterback still less than a year removed from a torn Achilles.
That latest bump came Sunday in a 26-20 loss to the Titans, a result that dropped Indianapolis to 2-4 and gave Tennessee its first win of the season. Jones had a hard time getting anything going, and the performance was poor enough to spark open calls from fans for the Colts to make a change at quarterback.
The offense did get some production on the ground. Jones and Jonathan Taylor helped Indianapolis pile up 165 rushing yards at 5.5 yards per carry. But the passing game never found its footing, with Jones finishing 22-for-42 and throwing two interceptions.
The first pick came on the opening drive. The second, in the third quarter, went to Cor'Dale Flott.
- NFL (@NFL) October 18, 2026
The Colts have stood behind Jones since bringing him in for 2025, when he beat out young backup Anthony Richardson in a quarterback competition. But after another uneven outing, some fans have started wondering whether Shane Steichen should at least take a look at Richardson again, or even give Riley Leonard another chance.
- Indysports (@Indysports1812) October 18, 2026
You can’t convince me that Anthony Richardson does any WORSE than Daniel Jones at this point…
- Logan Hancock (@ProFanLogan) October 18, 2026
Richardson has not started for the Colts since 2024. Last season, when Jones was injured, Leonard and Philip Rivers finished the year at quarterback.
For now, Steichen is staying the course. After the game, he said Jones "is our starting quarterback."
- NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 18, 2026
Jones owned up to his mistakes afterward, saying he "forced some stuff that [wasn't] there."
"We didn't play well enough today," Jones said.
Part of #Colts QB Daniel Jones’ postgame presser. https://t.co/EZGp79LXuf
- James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 18, 2026
If this season keeps sliding, the Colts may eventually decide to see what Richardson can do after spending so much time in the background. For now, Indianapolis is simply trying to climb out of a 2-4 hole.
Jones’ numbers are also trending in the wrong direction. He now has six interceptions on the season, including at least one in five of six games.
In 2025, he threw eight picks in 13 games. He’s currently on pace for his lowest passer rating, 71.1, since his 2023 stint with the Giants, when he played six games before tearing his ACL.
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Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor were both part of the turnover mess, and the offense never recovered once the mistakes started piling up. At 2-4, the Colts are staring at a stretch that will demand a much cleaner operation on offense and far fewer hidden-yardage disasters on special teams, because the next few matchups leave little room for a repeat. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Now Have A Daniel Jones Problem They Can't Ignore
Daniel Jones first season with the Colts has already become a topic the team cant avoid, even with a new week and a new opponent on deck. Signed to a two-year deal after suffering a torn Achilles in December 2025, Jones has not delivered the kind of stability Indianapolis was hoping for, and the rough showing in the loss to the Tennessee Titans only sharpened the scrutiny around the quarterback move the franchise made this offseason.
Shane Steichen has said Jones will start again against the Minnesota Vikings, a decision that keeps the focus squarely on how much patience the Colts can afford to show. With Chris Ballard out as general manager and Steichen still holding the head-coaching job, the organizations next steps at quarterback matter even more now, because every start is beginning to look like part evaluation, part damage control, and part referendum on a decision Indianapolis can no longer pretend is routine. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Now Face Another Brutal Test As Things Start Sliding
A loss at home to Tennessee put the Colts in a tougher spot than they wanted, especially with the schedule now steering them straight into a matchup with one of the leagues most complete teams. The next stop is Minnesota, where the undefeated Vikings bring a strong record and a defense that has made life difficult for plenty of opponents.
For Indianapolis, the challenge is about more than simply bouncing back from one bad Sunday. The Colts are trying to steady things after a game that slipped away on avoidable mistakes, and now they have to do it against a team oddsmakers trust more heavily, with Minnesota laying 5.5 points and the Colts sitting at +210 on the money line. [Read more 🡒]