Daniel Jones didn’t hide how he felt about the Colts’ recent teardown.
With Indianapolis dealing away DeForest Buckner, Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, and Quenton Nelson ahead of Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, the former Duke quarterback said Thursday that watching the roster get stripped down was tough. The Colts also had trade speculation swirling around Jones and Jonathan Taylor, but held onto both for now despite a 2-7 start.
Speaking to reporters, Jones said he was not happy with the moves, via FOX 59. He made it clear why the deadline activity landed so hard from a player’s perspective: it makes the job tougher for everyone in the locker room.
At the same time, he acknowledged those decisions are out of his hands. Jones still believes the group can compete, even if losing key pieces on the offensive line and at receiver makes that a much steeper climb.
The departures hit Indianapolis’ offense directly. Downs and Allen were the team’s top two receivers, with Downs posting 33 catches for 354 yards and one touchdown, and Allen finishing with 40 receptions for 351 yards and a score. Behind them, second-year tight end Tyler Warren has 38 catches for 275 yards and two touchdowns.
Jones’ own situation has changed dramatically since the offseason. He signed a two-year, $88 million contract extension after a strong performance in 2025, only to suffer an Achilles injury. The former Blue Devils standout was rebuilding his career before that setback, and as is usually the case with that injury, he has not been as sharp this season.
Through this year, Jones has completed 60.3% of his passes for 1,722 yards, six touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
The Vikings were mentioned as a possible landing spot for Jones, since he spent part of the 2024 season there, but Minnesota traded for its former quarterback Kirk Cousins instead.
And even beyond this season, Jones’ future in Indianapolis is not locked in. The Colts would have an out on his contract.
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