Daniel Jones enters his second season with the Indianapolis Colts in a much different place than he did a year ago. There’s no quarterback debate hanging over the first week this time.
In 2025, he was fighting Anthony Richardson for the job. In 2026, the job is his.
The biggest question was whether he’d even be ready to play against the Baltimore Ravens after tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 14 last season. That injury usually comes with a recovery window of 9-12 months, but Jones got back in seven. For a player whose future in Indianapolis depends heavily on availability, that mattered just as much as anything he showed in camp.
And availability has been a recurring issue. This was the third time Jones had a season cut short by injury. If the Colts are going to keep him as their long-term answer, staying on the field in 2026 is non-negotiable.
What stands out first is how quickly he gets back to work after getting banged up. Even before the Achilles tear, he was playing through a broken fibula.
He did not just return to camp in a limited role; he was a full participant by the start. That kind of turnaround says something about his pain tolerance, because playing quarterback in the NFL on a broken leg is no small thing.
He wasn’t flawless in the weeks before his second injury of 2025, but he still threw accurately even when his mobility took a hit.
The bigger football takeaway is that Jones looks positioned to be better in his second year with the Colts. Indianapolis cannot afford to lose him at any point this season. Anthony Richardson may have had his best training camp and preseason heading into his fourth year, and Riley Leonard is in the room too, but neither one has shown the level Jones reached early last season.
Jones picked up the playbook quickly in 2025, and Shane Steichen finally had a quarterback who could run the system the way he wanted. That showed up again this summer. The offense was already clicking with Jones under center, especially during the multiple joint practices the team held.
It might be too much to expect the Colts to match the efficiency and production they had in the first half of last season, if only because the competition is tougher right out of the gate in 2026. But getting close to that standard is realistic. That kind of ceiling belongs with Jones, not Richardson or Leonard.
There’s also the money side, and it tells its own story. Jones played 2025 on a one-year deal worth up to $15 million.
This offseason, he was back on the market, but instead of taking a full cash-out, he signed a two-year deal worth up to $88 million. Most of that money is tied to the first year, and the second year is there for him to earn with his play and his health.
If he doesn’t deliver, the Colts can move on and save $38 million. If he does, he could be looking at an even bigger jump in pay by 2028.
Jones is betting on himself, and the Colts are betting he can stay upright long enough for that wager to pay off.
In Other News...
Colts Rookie Class Is Already Creating A Few Tough Early Decisions
The Colts rookie class has already forced its way into the early roster conversation, and not just because all eight of their 2026 draft picks plus one undrafted free agent made the 53-man roster. For a team trying to build reliable depth around a few established pieces, that kind of retention says a lot about both the front offices evaluation and how quickly the rookies have made themselves part of the picture.
The trick now is figuring out where everyone fits once the season gets rolling. Linebackers CJ Allen and Bryce Boettcher are expected to open as backups, but their rotational roles are still unsettled, while safety A.J. Haulcys injury situation could change the plan at the back end of the defense. On offense, Seth McGowan has already done enough to lock down the direct backup job behind Jonathan Taylor, which leaves Indianapolis with one of those good problems every team wants early in the year, even if the answers are still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Week 1 Boost Baltimore Had To Notice
Alec Pierces recovery has become one of the more encouraging developments around Indianapolis as the Colts head toward their season opener against Baltimore. The wide receiver missed most of training camp while working back from ankle surgery, but he has now returned to full-team practice and moved from positional work into full offensive participation, a sign the Colts had to be glad to see with Week 1 approaching.
Shane Steichen said Pierce is feeling good and will keep getting more reps before the game, which gives Indianapolis a welcome boost at a time when opening-night readiness matters. Whether Pierce is fully back to his usual workload right away is still the question, but the Colts have at least put themselves in position to have him available when the Ravens arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Just Got An AFC South Reality Check Fans Wont Like
The AFC South is shaping up as a division with a clear top tier, and the latest roster ranking does not flatter Indianapolis. Houston comes out first, Jacksonville is close behind, and the Colts land third, ahead of only Tennessee in a breakdown that weighs overall talent, coaching impact, and how much uncertainty each team still carries. For a club trying to push back into the playoff mix, that kind of placement is a reminder that the division race may be tighter than it looks on paper.
The Colts still have pieces worth building around, but the concerns are hard to ignore, especially when it comes to health and depth. Houston brings its own questions on offense, yet the Texans were still viewed as the strongest roster in the division, while Jacksonvilles place near the top only adds to the pressure in Indianapolis. In a four-team race where every edge matters, the Colts are being asked to prove they belong in the conversation rather than simply hoping the rest of the AFC South slips. [Read more 🡒]