Colts’ Quarterback Carousel Spins Again After Daniel Jones Injury in Week 14 Loss to Jaguars
The Indianapolis Colts rolled the dice-and it looks like they may have come up snake eyes. Daniel Jones, already playing through a broken fibula, suffered what appears to be a serious Achilles injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s Week 14 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The injury came on a non-contact play, which is often a red flag for something significant-especially when it involves the lower leg.
Jones went down awkwardly after a pass attempt and didn’t get back up. Trainers rushed in, and the look on his face told the story before any MRI could.
The early word: a likely Achilles injury. If that’s confirmed, it could sideline the veteran quarterback not just for the rest of this season, but potentially deep into 2026 as well.
That’s the kind of long-term setback that reshapes not just a depth chart, but a franchise’s entire outlook.
The Colts had been riding a wave earlier this season, surging to a 7-1 start and looking like legitimate playoff contenders. But now, the quarterback room is in flux.
Anthony Richardson, the presumed starter before the season began, remains out with a broken orbital bone. That leaves the reins, for now, in the hands of Riley Leonard, a rookie who wasn’t expected to be anywhere near the starting lineup this year.
Leonard is talented, no question, but raw. The leap from clipboard-holder to QB1 in December is no small ask-especially with the Colts’ upcoming gauntlet of opponents: Seattle, San Francisco, Houston, and Jacksonville again. That’s not exactly a soft landing for a young quarterback trying to find his footing.
Brett Rypien, currently on the practice squad, is the only other option in-house. And while he brings some NFL experience, he’s not the kind of stopgap that inspires playoff confidence.
If Jones is indeed out for the long haul, Indianapolis may have no choice but to look outside the building for help. A veteran free agent?
A trade? At this point in the season, neither option is ideal-but neither is rolling into a must-win December stretch with an untested rookie and a practice squad backup.
This injury also raises some tough questions about the decision to let Jones play through the fibula fracture in the first place. When one part of the body is compromised, it often forces other areas to compensate-and that can lead to even more serious damage. Whether that’s what happened here is something the team’s medical staff will have to evaluate, but it’s a reminder of just how fine the line is between toughness and risk.
For now, all eyes are on the MRI results. If it’s a full Achilles tear, Jones could be looking at a recovery timeline that stretches well into next season. And for the Colts, a team that looked like it had finally found some stability under center, it’s back to the drawing board-again.
From 7-1 to potentially missing the playoffs, the fall could be steep. The Colts have shown resilience this season, but with a battered quarterback room and a brutal schedule ahead, they’re going to need every ounce of it to stay afloat.