The Indianapolis Colts are thought to be in good shape at quarterback, as long as Daniel Jones' injuries stay at bay.
The Indianapolis Colts finally got off the seemingly never-ending quarterback carousel last offseason when they signed free agent quarterback Daniel Jones.
They likely didn't know they were hopping off the ride at the time when they took a chance on Jones with a one-year deal, pitting him in a competition against Anthony Richardson Sr. for the right to be the starting quarterback.
However, Jones responded with arguably the best season of his seven-year career before a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 14 derailed everything.
Now, the Colts have taken another leap of faith with Jones, signing him to a two-year, $88 million deal despite not having fully recovered yet from the injury. They're banking on Jones returning to form, pre-injury.
Because the Colts are now settled and have a player they know is their starter at quarterback, they can breathe a little easier, according to Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report.
Ballentine recently set a panic meter reading for each team's quarterback situation, with the Colts' mark at 4 out of 10; lower numbers reflect more confidence.
"There's good news and bad news when it comes to the Colts quarterback situation," Ballentine states. "The good news is that giving Daniel Jones a one-year contract ended up being a great decision. Under Shane Steichen, Jones played better than he has in his entire career, going 8-5 as the starter and posting a 100.2 passer rating.
"If he had stayed healthy and maintained that over a full season, the Colts could be hovering close to a 1 on the panic meter."
Oct 12, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) celebrates with wide receiver Alec Pierce (14) after Jones scores a touchdown during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christine Tannous-USA TODAY Network via Imagn ImagesJones achieved several personal bests in his lone season in Indianapolis before his season ended, although a fractured fibula hampered him in the weeks leading up to the Achilles.
Jones' win percentage (61.5%), completion percentage (68.0%), passing yards per attempt (8.1), passing yards per game (238.5), passer rating (100.2), and QBR (63.1) were all single-season career highs. He was also on pace to set new marks in completions, pass attempts, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passing first downs.
"Unfortunately, (Jones) suffered a torn Achilles that ended his season and leaves some uncertainty going into 2026," Ballentine continued. "The Colts showed confidence in the quarterback with a new two-year, $88 million contract. However, there's some wiggle room to get out of it after a year."
Outside of Jones, the Colts also have Richardson, Riley Leonard, and Seth Henigan at quarterback. Richardson is on the trade block, Henigan was an undrafted rookie last year, and Leonard actually played well in two extended games of action despite being a sixth-round pick.
In summation, Ballentine describes the Jones contract as a boom-or-bust situation for the Colts.
"Essentially, the Colts are once again locked in on a short-term bet for Daniel Jones. If he recovers from his Achilles and picks up where he left off, then the Colts are in good shape," Ballentine wrote. "But if there's a slower recovery process than expected or he regresses, then the Colts are still in a tenuous quarterback situation."