The Colts got the result they needed in London, edging the Washington Commanders to move to 2-2, but the win came with a warning label attached. Indianapolis had enough good fortune to survive, and Daniel Jones was right in the middle of the mess that nearly sank them.
Jones put the ball on the ground on the second snap of the game in a sequence that looked as ugly as it was surprising. It wasn’t the famous “butt fumble,” but it had that same awkward, sloppy feel to it.
Bernhard Raimann was driven back by a bull rush, both defenders ended up in Jones’ face, and still the ball came loose in a way that didn’t look right. Then, just like he did against the Texans, Jones drifted backward under pressure and threw an interception.
For a stretch, the offense was flat-out rough. The opening quarter and a half were a slog.
Fortunately for Indianapolis, the defense steadied things and kept Washington out of the endzone, holding the damage to six points. The fact that the Commanders were on a third string quarterback helped, too.
That part matters. It won’t always be that forgiving.
Better teams are going to cash in on mistakes like these, and the Colts know it. If they want this start to mean anything, Jones has to stop giving possessions away.
The numbers tell the story. Jones has seven turnovers in four games, including five in the last two.
It has the feel of the second half of 2025 Jones, and that version simply won’t cut it for Indianapolis. A turnover here and there happens.
But at least two of the fumbles and both interceptions were avoidable, and that’s the problem. Jones has to clean it up, because the Colts can’t keep living this close to the edge.
In Other News...
Colts Sideline Debate Just Got Bigger At A Delicate Time
Carlie Irsay-Gordons habit of planting herself on the Colts sideline has become one of the more unusual talking points around the team, especially as she continues to work in plain view with a playbook in hand and notes at the ready. The principal owner and CEO has framed her approach as part of being an attentive leader, saying in an interview that listening and understanding matter, which fits the image she has presented during games.
But the conversation around her presence has widened, and not everyone views it as harmless curiosity. Bill Simmons questioned the sideline involvement on his podcast, adding another layer to a discussion that is already unfolding at a delicate point in the season, with Indianapolis sitting at 2-2 and trying to keep its focus on football rather than the attention orbiting above it. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Suddenly Have A Khalil Mack Decision Fans Can't Ignore
The Colts pass rush remains a talking point as the season approaches, and the latest name to surface is a familiar one: Khalil Mack. Indianapolis has been searching for more help off the edge after injuries thinned that group, and Macks track record would instantly change the tone of that conversation if the Colts decide to get aggressive. He is on a one-year contract, which makes him the kind of short-term fix teams often explore when a roster hole becomes too obvious to ignore.
Still, any potential move is not entirely in the Colts hands. Mack also carries a no-trade clause, so he would have to sign off on any deal, and the Chargers would likely want draft compensation in return if they are willing to listen at all. That leaves Indianapolis weighing a familiar NFL dilemma: whether to pay for immediate help now or hold its picks and trust the current rotation to survive the next stretch. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Add A Familiar Pass Rusher With Anarumo Ties
The Colts added a familiar edge presence to the practice squad on Wednesday, bringing in veteran defensive end Carl Lawson as they continue sorting through their pass-rush depth. Lawson arrives with a clear connection to defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo from their time together in Cincinnati, which gives Indianapolis a built-in level of familiarity as the team looks to fortify the front seven.
Lawson has been around plenty of NFL locker rooms over his eight-year career, with stops in Baltimore, New York, and Dallas in addition to his years with the Bengals. He has 32 sacks to his name, and the question now is whether that experience and Anarumo familiarity can quickly translate into a larger opportunity in Indianapolis. [Read more 🡒]