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stephen holder
Jacksonville, Florida — Daniel Jones He limped off the field and into the tunnel, distraught indianapolis colts locker room. He was wet from the rain, disheveled, and his right leg had been torn just a few hours earlier. The expressions he expressed after that Lost 36-16 on Sunday till jacksonville jaguars It was a perfect example of his team’s desperate plight.
The Colts (8-5), already in the midst of a precipitous decline after starting the season with the NFL’s best record of 7-1, now face a long list of complex questions in the wake of Jones’ serious injury. a torn achillesESPN’s Adam Schefter Jones could take up to a year to fully recover from the concussion he suffered, a source said, raising thorny issues regarding the position’s future in Indianapolis. And as the Colts season winds down, what might a disappointing finish mean for the team’s leadership, its veteran players and everyone involved?
With Jones facing season-ending surgery and several months of rehabilitation, here are the important questions posed by Jones’ devastating injury.
What happens in the immediate term?
For now, newbie backup riley leonard Takes the reins, and it puts the Colts in a tough position. Leonard was drafted in the sixth round out of Notre Dame and the team viewed him as a developmental quarterback. He was the third-line option until a scary pregame accident involving the quarterback Anthony Richardson Sr.In October he suffered an orbital fracture in his face after an accident involving a stretching band. richardson remains on injured reserve,
Leonard has been the No. 2 quarterback ever since. And while he has worked diligently and made significant progress – just last week Leonard spent a late evening at Jones’ home preparing for an extra game – one of the primary strengths of the Colts’ offense was Jones’ ability to process situations quickly and accurately and make sound decisions. This will be difficult for Leonard to duplicate given his inexperience.
Against the Jags, Leonard completed 18 of 29 attempts for 145 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Leonard also ran for the score. But according to ESPN Research, 16 of Leonard’s attempts were five yards or less down the field.
Leonard showed the game wasn’t too big for him, and he’ll need to demonstrate that again if he makes his first start on the road next Sunday. Seattle SeahawksImmediately after the game, Leonard was already receiving significant support from his teammates,
“People like [All-pro guard] quenton nelson Come up to me and say he believes in me,” Leonard said. “Everyone on the sideline was very supportive. That’s always good for a rookie quarterback.”
What’s next at quarterback for Indy?
The Colts were having internal discussions about a contract extension for Jones long before he became the hottest offense in the NFL. In eight games, the Colts were 7–1, averaging six more points per game than any other team and producing 6.5 yards per play, one of the highest marks in franchise history.
Jones was the key to unlocking it all, with his efficiency, accurate passing and implementation of coach Shane Steichen’s smart plans. Jones appeared to be the answer to the Colts’ years-long uncertainty at quarterback. But now, everything about his future is under question.
He is scheduled to become a free agent when his one-year contract expires in the spring. But he will be a long way from returning to the field at that point, and his status for next season is, at best, in question.
Do the Colts take a risk on him and sign him to a reduced contract? Do they look elsewhere? Can they even trust him for 2026?
Those answers are far from over, but the impact Jones has made on the Colts was evident in his response to his injury.
“He’s our team leader,” the receiver. Alec Pierce Said. “He’s the captain of our team. Everything runs through him. He was brutal.”
Worth noting is that Richardson remains under contract through 2026. His future is in question after losing the battle for preseason position with Jones. But Sunday’s developments may change things for them. Richardson showed improvement through training camp and is still only 23 years old.
What if the season unravels?
In many ways, this is already settling. The Colts began Sunday tied for first place in the AFC South, but Jacksonville (9-4) now sits alone on top of the division. The loss left the Colts on the periphery of the wild-card standings.
So, after a remarkable start for Indianapolis with the best record in the NFL, what effect will the decline have on the people in charge of the team?
The futures of general manager Chris Ballard and Steichen were in question after an 8–9 finish last season. But late owner Jim Irsay, who died in May, agreed to give the pair another chance in 2025.
Losing a starting quarterback in Week 14, while the playoffs are still within reach, certainly complicates the evaluation process. But things were already slipping away before Jones’ injury. Everything that has happened in recent weeks has not reflected well on team morale, and it will be a tough assessment if the Colts cannot turn in strong performances in their remaining games against the Seahawks, 49ers Jaguars and Texans. The combined record of those teams is 39-14.
What is the impact of change of ownership?
The subplot to all this is that all of the tough decisions going forward for the Colts will be made by different decision makers.
Irsay’s eldest daughter, Carly Irsay-Gordon, and her sisters, Casey Foyt and Kellen Jackson, are now the primary owners. Not sure how they will process what has happened. Jim Irsay was often emotional and prone to sudden decisions, but his daughters are considered more practical.
But however they choose to proceed, the Colts are not in an optimal situation. Jones’ injury is compounded by the absence of their first-round picks in 2026 and 2027, which the team recently traded New York Jets for cornerback Sauce Gardner In an effort to make a deep playoff run this season.
The Colts also need to focus on the future of key players. Pierce and defensive ends quitty pay Entering free agency, receivers Michael Pittman Jr.The salary-cap figure has risen to $29 million and is trailing jonathan taylor An extension is due (2026 is the final season of his contract).
A single injury has raised many questions to which there is no immediate answer.
