Former Duke QB Daniel Jones Week 9 Status Revealed by Colts Amid Issues

Former Duke Blue Devils quarterback Daniel Jones has seen better days in the NFL, with the veteran struggling so far this season.

The Indianapolis Colts dropped another game this weekend, with Jones struggling again for the team. Against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jones threw for 144 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions as Indianapolis got blown out.

After the game, there were real questions about whether Jones would be the starter for the team moving forward. But Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Jones would start in Week 9 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Steichen said that Jones gives the team the best chance to win games, and that he still believes in the veteran. But the former Duke signal-caller could be on a short leash if his play doesn't improve.

So far this season, Jones has thrown for 1,542 yards with five touchdowns and nine interceptions. The Colts are 2-6 on the season, with the team undergoing a fires ale ahead of the NFL trade deadline.

Jones is coming off a brutal Achilles injury that he suffered in December 2025, but he has been healthy this year for the Colts. However, Jones hasn't been able to recapture any of the magic that he found through the first eight weeks of the season a year ago.

Before going down with the injury last season, Jones was playing well, leading the Colts to a 8-5 record. But once he went down, Indianapolis stumbled, losing its last four games of the season, missing the playoffs.

This year, Jones returned healthy, and the Colts were expecting the team to be in playoff position again. But that hasn't happened, and now his status as the starter will be questioned weekly.

Jones has thrown for under 200 yards in three of the last five games, showing real signs of concern with the offense. The veteran just hasn't been able to generate anything for this team, and it's cost them on the field.

The Colts have been one of the worst offenses in the NFL across many different categories, including expected points. Jones isn't the only person to blame, but as the quarterback, he will get all the criticism for the issues.

If Jones can't put together a stronger game against the Cowboys this week, the former Duke star could be heading toward the bench. But that remains to be seen, with the Colts trusting the veteran for now.