The Indianapolis Colts walked into Sunday’s matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars still very much in the thick of the AFC South race. They walked out not only with a 36-19 loss but also without one of their key offensive leaders - a gut punch that could define the rest of their season.
Daniel Jones, already playing through a fractured fibula, went down early in the first quarter on a non-contact play while attempting a pass. The moment was hard to watch.
Jones immediately grabbed at his lower leg, clearly in pain, and slammed his helmet to the turf - a raw, emotional reaction from a player who’s battled more than his fair share of injuries. After the game, head coach Shane Steichen didn’t sugarcoat it: “It doesn’t look good.”
And with that, the Colts’ season took a sharp turn.
Jones’ injury isn’t just a personnel loss - it’s a leadership void. He’s the guy who’s been guiding this offense, keeping them competitive even when the margins were razor-thin.
Without him, Indianapolis faces an uphill climb to stay alive in the playoff hunt and keep pace in the division. But the NFL doesn’t wait for anyone, and the Colts have no choice but to pivot - fast.
Enter Riley Leonard.
The rookie out of Notre Dame, a sixth-round pick in 2025, was suddenly thrust into the spotlight. He finished the game 18-of-29 for 145 yards, no touchdowns through the air, and one interception.
He did manage to run one in late, but by then, the game was already slipping away. To be fair, Leonard likely had little to no reps with the first-team offense during the week.
Throwing a rookie into that situation mid-game is asking a lot - especially against a Jaguars defense that’s been stingy all season.
Next up? A road trip to Seattle to face a Seahawks defense that thrives in front of their home crowd.
It’s a trial by fire for Leonard, but it’s also an opportunity. So how do the Colts give their young quarterback a fighting chance?
It starts with the run game.
Against Jacksonville, the Colts ran the ball 26 times for just 89 yards - not nearly enough, especially when your rookie quarterback is making his NFL debut. Yes, the Jaguars are one of the best run defenses in the league, but the Colts pride themselves on being a physical, run-first team.
That identity has to show up next week. Steichen and his staff should be aiming for 120 to 150 rushing yards against Seattle - not just to move the chains, but to take pressure off Leonard and control the tempo.
Fewer possessions for the Seahawks means fewer opportunities for things to spiral on offense.
Next step: simplify the game for Leonard.
That means quick throws, play-action passes, and high-percentage looks that let him get into rhythm early. Don’t ask him to be a hero - ask him to be efficient.
The Colts can lean on their tight ends, use screens to the running backs, and create easy completions that build Leonard’s confidence. The more comfortable he feels, the more likely he is to make the right reads and avoid costly mistakes.
And then there’s the most important piece - figuring out what Leonard does well.
Every quarterback has a comfort zone. Some thrive on timing routes, others on bootlegs or RPOs.
It’s up to Steichen and his staff to identify Leonard’s strengths and build the game plan around them. That’s how you keep a young quarterback from drowning - not by forcing him into a system, but by tailoring the system to him.
Let him play fast, let him play free, and give him the tools to succeed.
The reality is this: the Colts are in a tough spot. They’ve dropped four of their last five, and now they’re likely without their starting quarterback for the rest of the season.
But the season isn’t over. There’s still a path to the playoffs - narrow, yes, but still there.
And it starts with how they respond next week in Seattle.
This is where coaching matters. This is where identity matters. And this is where a rookie quarterback gets his first real shot to lead.