The Indianapolis Colts are trying to keep their playoff hopes alive, but they’re doing it while navigating a tricky injury situation-especially at quarterback. Daniel Jones is playing through a fibula injury, and while he’s still under center, it’s clear he’s not quite himself. That’s a concern for a team that relies heavily on his ability to extend plays and keep defenses guessing.
But here’s where it gets interesting: Jones isn’t just gutting it out-he’s getting a little high-tech help from some familiar faces. A pair of former Duke teammates, who now run a 3D-printing business, have stepped in to give their old quarterback a boost. They created a custom 3D-printed pad for Jones to wear on his leg, designed specifically to protect the injured area and keep him on the field.
If this sounds like déjà vu, it’s because it kind of is. Back in 2018, when Jones broke his collarbone at Duke, the same duo built a similar protective pad to help him finish out that college season. Fast forward to now, and that same innovation is helping him battle through a much different kind of injury in the NFL.
“I’m lucky to have smart friends,” Jones said this week. “Two classmates of mine, teammates at Duke… They were starting up that business during my last year at Duke.
I broke my collarbone at that time, so it kind of worked out timing wise. Since then they’ve built a pretty good business 3D printing those pads and devices.”
Jones has already worn the new pad in the last two games, and so far, he’s feeling good about it. The turnaround time was quick, too-thanks to an app that allows users to scan the body part on a phone and generate a model for printing. The pad was delivered to Jones when the Colts were in Kansas City to face the Chiefs in November.
Now, the question isn’t whether the pad works-it’s whether Jones can keep playing effectively enough to lead Indy into the postseason. And that’s where things get a little murky.
According to multiple league insiders, including ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, there’s real concern about how much the injury is affecting Jones’ mobility. Fowler noted that while Jones is pushing through the fibula issue, coaches around the league who’ve watched the Colts closely say he’s clearly not 100 percent.
Graziano added that folks in Houston noticed it firsthand during Sunday’s game against the Texans. “They said they felt Jones really couldn’t move at all,” Graziano reported. “He was able to hit some shots downfield when the pocket held up, but the mobility part of his game is missing, which makes the offense seem more limited.”
That’s a big deal. Jones’ ability to move-whether it’s scrambling for a first down or buying time to find a receiver-has always been a key part of his game. Without it, the Colts’ offense becomes more predictable, more static, and ultimately, more vulnerable.
Still, there’s no questioning Jones’ toughness or the creativity of the team around him-both on and off the field. Whether that’s enough to carry the Colts through the final stretch and into the postseason?
That remains to be seen. But if they do make it, you can bet that 3D-printed pad will have played a small but crucial role in getting them there.