Colts Face Crucial Division Clash in Jacksonville as Daniel Jones Battles Injury
Week 14 brings a high-stakes AFC South showdown as the Indianapolis Colts head to Jacksonville, still chasing a win they haven’t managed there in over a decade. But this time, they’ll be doing it with their starting quarterback, Daniel Jones, nursing a fibula injury - and still planning to suit up.
Jones’ toughness isn’t just something his teammates talk about - it’s something they see up close. Rookie backup quarterback Riley Leonard shared a moment that captured it perfectly.
After Jones underwent an MRI, Leonard was eager to hear the results. He reached out to team staffers and got the kind of long-winded medical explanations you’d expect.
But when Jones finally texted him, it was just three words: *“I’ll be good.” *
That’s been the tone all season from Jones - steady, no-nonsense leadership. And it’s translated on the field.
Through 12 games, he’s thrown for 3,041 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. He’s also added five rushing scores on 44 carries, showing he’s still a threat with his legs when he needs to be.
But now, with a leg injury of his own to manage, the question is whether he can keep delivering at the same level - and stay upright doing it.
The timing couldn’t be more critical. After a strong start, the Colts hit a wall with back-to-back losses - first a collapse against the Kansas City Chiefs, then a home loss to the Houston Texans.
That two-game skid erased their cushion in the AFC South and brought them into a dead heat with the Jaguars. Sunday’s game could very well decide who controls the division heading into the final stretch.
And then there’s the Jacksonville factor - a house of horrors for the Colts in recent years. The last time they won a game there?
September 21, 2014. That’s more than 11 years of frustration in Duval County, and it’s a streak they’d love to snap with the division lead on the line.
Jones, to his credit, isn’t backing down. Despite the injury, all signs point to him playing through it.
That’s the kind of grit that’s earned him buy-in from a fanbase that wasn’t exactly sold on him as the starter when the season began. But at 8-4, with signature wins over the Broncos and Chargers, Jones has helped put the Colts in the thick of the playoff race.
Now, the challenge is staying healthy enough to finish what he started. The offensive line will need to keep him clean, and Jones will have to be smart about when to extend plays and when to live for the next down. If he can manage that - if he can gut it out and lead this team through December - the Colts have every reason to believe they can punch their ticket to the postseason.
It starts Sunday in Jacksonville - a place that’s haunted them for years. But with Jones under center, even banged up, the Colts aren’t backing down.