The Colts are staring at a quarterback problem they can’t ignore, and longtime team insider Mike Chappell said the answer might be a change under center.
Speaking the day after Indianapolis lost to Minnesota, Chappell joined Jake Query on Query & Company on 107.5 The Fan and made a blunt admission: “I have a hard time believing I’m going to say this, but he needs to make a quarterback change.”
His skepticism was aimed squarely at Daniel Jones. Chappell said Jones’ play has gotten so shaky that “he needs to sit down,” pointing to a line that tells the story all by itself: four touchdowns and seven interceptions. Indianapolis leaned on the ground game and still rushed for 165 yards, but Chappell said that formula only goes so far in a league where passing production matters.
“You can’t throw for 108 yards in today’s NFL,” he said.
Chappell also made clear he doesn’t love the options behind Jones, whether that means Anthony Richardson or Riley Leonard. And even with the pressure mounting, he doesn’t believe Shane Steichen is eager to pull the plug. After the loss, Steichen said he hadn’t considered a quarterback change because “I got a ton of faith in Daniel.”
Still, Chappell said the Colts have spent the season showing how little trust they have in Richardson. He also raised concerns about Richardson’s judgment after his recent marijuana charge. On top of that, Chappell pointed to the money already on the books, noting the team is “already committed to $47 million to Daniel Jones next year.”
The other major Colts name Chappell brought into the conversation was Jonathan Taylor, and he didn’t leave much room for ambiguity. Asked if Indianapolis will trade Taylor, he answered, “Yes. Yes.”
In Chappell’s view, the market is there because plenty of teams need a top running back. He named Seattle, Green Bay and Minnesota as possible fits.
As for what the Colts might get back, he said, “Somebody keeps saying a one… a two and a four. I don’t know.”
He also pushed back on the idea that Seth McGowan’s extra carries were a sign of what the future looks like without Taylor. Chappell said those touches were about keeping Taylor fresh, not auditioning a replacement.
Reading Carlie Irsay-Gordon’s comments about the timing of Chris Ballard’s firing, Chappell took it as another sign that more roster movement is coming. “It’s cold business, but they’re assets,” he said. He added that he’d like to see Taylor and DeForest Buckner end up with contenders.
One day later, the Colts traded Quenton Nelson to Seattle.
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