Daniel Jones’ 2025 season came to an early end with a torn Achilles, and while the surgery to repair the injury was successful, his future in Indianapolis is anything but guaranteed.
Jones, who joined the Colts on a one-year, $14 million deal, is now headed for free agency. And with no long-term commitment in place, the question becomes: will Indy bring him back, or is this the end of the road for Jones in a Colts uniform?
There’s the franchise tag option, which would cost the team around $40 million-a hefty price tag for a quarterback coming off a major injury. It’s not out of the question, but it’s far from a lock. The Colts have to weigh that number against Jones’ performance this season and his long-term durability.
And that performance? It wasn’t elite, but it was solid.
Jones started 13 games, completing 68 percent of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He brought stability to the Colts’ offense and showed flashes of the dual-threat ability that made him a top-10 pick back in 2019.
But the Achilles injury throws a wrench into everything-especially for a quarterback who’s relied on mobility as part of his game.
There’s also the possibility that another team swoops in. One team to keep an eye on: the Minnesota Vikings. Jones had a brief stint with them after his release from the Giants in 2024, and with Minnesota still searching for consistent quarterback play, a reunion isn’t off the table.
Jones’ journey has been anything but conventional. Drafted sixth overall by the Giants out of Duke in 2019, he inked a four-year rookie deal worth over $25 million, including a $16.6 million signing bonus. But after New York declined his fifth-year option ahead of the 2022 season, Jones played out the final year of his rookie contract and then earned a massive four-year, $160 million extension in 2023.
That deal didn’t last long. After being benched in 2024, Jones was released and landed on the Vikings’ practice squad before getting a fresh start with the Colts.
Now, at 28, he’s at a crossroads. The numbers show he can still play.
The injury raises questions about how soon-and how effectively-he can return. And the Colts?
They have a decision to make: commit to Jones for another run, or turn the page and look elsewhere.
Whatever happens, Jones’ offseason will be one of the more intriguing quarterback storylines to watch.