A quarterback change isn’t out of the question in Indianapolis.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen left the door open for Daniel Jones to not start, telling reporters on Sunday that he was “going to evaluate everything” after being asked if Jones would stay as Indy’s starting quarterback.
The Colts lost their sixth game of the season in blowout fashion on Sunday – falling 42-7 to the Jaguars – raising the question about Jones’ status as the starter amid a season in which the former Giants QB has struggled.
He was pulled from the game with 11:53 left in the fourth quarter after completing 19-of-28 passes attempted for 144 yards. Jones also threw two interceptions in the loss.
“I’ve got to play better,” Jones said, according to the Indy Star. “I’ve got to execute more consistently, put the team in a position to score points and win these games.”
Jones is coming off a 2025 that started with a career-best run, only to end after he ruptured his Achilles and had to rehab over the offseason to be ready to return for Week 1.
His 39.5 quarterback rating is the second-lowest of his career, and the 60.4 percent completion rating is the worst of his career.
Jones, 29, did sign a contract extension with the Colts in March, but the structure of the deal does allow for the Colts to get out of it if they needed to, which has raised questions about his future in Indianapolis.
“I think right now with everything going on and where we are, keeping your focus on what’s here, what’s right in front of us, how to improve day after day, is most important,” Jones said, per ESPN.
Anthony Richardson, the Colts fourth overall pick in 2023, came in late in the game and completed both pass attempts for eight yards.
“We’re sticking with him,” Richardson said of Jones. “He’s got my full support, I’m supporting him 1,000%. It’s tough to play quarterback in this league, it’s tough to play quarterback in general. When the spotlight’s on you like this, you’ve just got to keep your head down and keep working.”
