Daniel Jones is sounding increasingly like a quarterback who expects to be out there when the Colts open the regular season.
The veteran said Tuesday that he has felt strong throughout the early stretch of training camp, even as he continues to work back from the torn Achilles he suffered in early December. The message from Jones was simple: the rehab has held up, the movement feels good, and he’s been able to do the work needed to prepare for camp.
“Felt good through the whole camp so far, and kind of - I knew I would,” Jones said Tuesday, via transcript from the team, noting he’s felt good doing everything and moving around. “I think you try to push yourself in rehab and what you’re doing in preparation for camp, kind of knowing what to expect. So, I’ve felt really good, and I’ll continue to stay on the recovery part of it, make sure I’m available and out here every day.”
Jones also said the Colts haven’t stripped anything out of the offense because of where he is in the recovery process. In practice, he has been working under center frequently, which he said has been a key part of getting his body ready again.
“I think that was something I tried to focus on through the rehab process is pushing off that foot when I’m under center and making sure you’re not disrupting timing with running backs or with play-action game, or any of that stuff,” Jones said, adding he started doing that around four months ago. “So, that was definitely an important focus of the process, and something I’ll continue to work on.”
For Indianapolis, the updates are encouraging after a 2025 season that started fast but ended badly. The Colts dropped eight of their last nine games and went 0-4 after Jones’ injury on Dec. 7.
Before the injury, Jones put together a productive season. In 13 games, he completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,101 yards, with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
In Other News...
Colts Backup QB Battle Just Put Anthony Richardson On Notice
Training camp has already turned the Colts backup quarterback job into a real subplot behind Daniel Jones, with Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson both getting long looks as the team sorts out its depth chart. Indianapolis still intends to keep Richardson in the fold, but the early tone of camp suggests the competition is doing exactly what it was meant to do: push both passers and force the staff to pay close attention to every rep.
Leonard has made the stronger early impression in practice, showing more consistency in key moments and flashing the kind of live arm that can change how a roster conversation sounds in a hurry. If that gap keeps growing, the Colts may have a tougher call than they expected, especially with Richardson trying to hold off a challenger who has already started to make his case. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Camp Battles Are Starting To Reveal Some Tough Early Answers
Midway through training camp, the Colts are already getting a better sense of where some of the roster fights are headed, and not every competition is creating the same kind of suspense. The backup quarterback spot has drawn plenty of attention because of the names involved, while the kicking job has also become one of the more closely watched battles as the team sorts through its options.
There is still time for things to change, but the early pecking order is starting to take shape in a few key areas. At linebacker and defensive end, the Colts are still looking at open-ended competitions with no clear starters established yet, which should keep those spots worth tracking as camp moves on and the workload ramps up. [Read more 🡒]