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Daniel Jones
QB · IND

Daniel Jones

Position QB
Team IND
Bye Week 13
PPR Rank #159

Daniel Jones

NFL player. Position: QB. Team: IND.

Quick Facts

  • Position: QB
  • Team: IND (Indianapolis Colts)
  • Bye week (2026): 13
  • FantasyPros PPR rank (pulled 2026-05-21): 159

2026 Outlook

Colts locked up Daniel Jones as their starter for 2026 after his injury recovery. Has cleared to throw and participates in OTAs. Faces Week 2 SNF matchup against Kansas City after recovering from ACL/fibula injuries. Behind him, Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson compete for the backup role, with neither currently holding an edge per HC Shane Steichen (per 2026 NFL Offseason Buzz: Colts' Backup QB Battle Even Behind Daniel Jones).

At the 2026 combine, Colts GM Chris Ballard confirmed negotiations with Jones were progressing positively on a new contract, stating: "Had great discussions about both of them. We'll continue to work this week and see if we can get something done... It's been very positive. Look, when both sides are driven to get it done, it usually works out the right way." (per 2026 NFL combine live: News, rumors from Feb. 24 coach, GM sessions).

The Colts project Jones returning for Week 1 of 2026 despite his Achilles tear. USA Today predicts a challenging season: 8-9 record with critical matchups including a Week 2 SNF "must-win" against Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs (both recovering from QB injuries) and a highly anticipated Week 12 "grudge match" against his former team, the Giants, with new HC John Harbaugh and successor Jaxson Dart at QB. USA Today's expert panel notes that Week 2 "must-win" framing is warranted given the importance of each game in a team with a razor-thin margin for error—both Mahomes and Jones are recovering from major injuries, making this an especially high-stakes matchup. (per Colts 2026 schedule: Way-too-early record prediction, picks)

Week 12 home game against the Giants will be an emotional rematch: Jones was drafted 6th overall by New York in 2019 but posted a 24-44-1 record over six seasons and parted ways with the team in late 2024. After signing a 1-year deal with Indianapolis for 2025 and recovering from injury, he signed a 2-year, $88M contract to be the Colts' franchise QB, setting up a classic revenge game scenario. (per 3 Most Intriguing Indianapolis Colts Matchups in 2026)

Role / Depth Chart

Starter QB, recovered from Achilles injury. Returned to 7-on-7 team drills at OTAs (June 8), going 5-of-6 with 2 TDs in first team session since injury. HC Shane Steichen confirmed Jones will advance to 11-on-11 work during July training camp, with Week 1 start vs. Ravens considered very likely (per 3 Biggest Winners of Colts' OTAs).

Injury Status

Achilles tear and fractured fibula from late 2025 season. Fractured fibula suffered during Week 2 matchup vs Chiefs, but continued playing. Achilles tear ended season in Week 15 matchup vs Jaguars. Cleared to throw as of late May 2026. Target for regular season readiness, though history of injuries raises durability concerns (per Every Colts Primetime Game in 2026: TV Schedule, Dates, & Matchups and Daniel Jones is throwing for the first time since injury. See more photos).

As of June 1, 2026, Jones is ahead of schedule in his recovery and has progressed to 7-on-7 work at OTAs. Coach Shane Steichen cleared him for this step, though instructing him not to scramble and to avoid unnecessary risk. Jones is making meaningful strides in agility and footwork, hitting all the marks the Colts set for his recovery. Expected to be ready for full team activities by training camp and is on track to start Week 1 against the Ravens (per Colts QB Daniel Jones Takes Big Step In Achilles Return By Playing 7-on-7).

By June 10, Jones was participating in 7-on-7 work at minicamp practices and requested to participate in full 11-on-11 portions, though Coach Steichen stated they're being "super smart" with his workload progression. Steichen confirmed Jones will advance to full-team portions when training camp begins, emphasizing Jones has been hitting "all his landmarks each and every week, every day" in his rehabilitation (per Daniel Jones' Achilles' recovery remains on track, which has major implications for Colts' 2026 season).

2026 Outlook (continued)

The Colts' 2-year, $88M extension drew scrutiny for its cost relative to comparable QB signings. While Jones wasn't going to clear a physical in early free agency due to his injuries, the deal effectively pays him at the franchise tag rate ($44M) with minimal upside if he plays well—team has no year-to-year flexibility. This is expensive compared to similar-tier QBs like Kyler Murray or Malik Willis. The durability profile remains a concern: soft tissue injuries (neck, shoulder, legs) plus the Achilles tear suggest a high reinjury risk in 2026 (per Grading The Biggest NFL Free Agency Moves).

Jones' 2025 season was historic but came with caveats. Through seven games, his offense scored more points per drive than any NFL team this century—including the 2007 Patriots. He posted a 109.5 passer rating in his first 8 games with 13 TDs and 3 INTs. However, he was playing through a fractured fibula early on and declined significantly in weeks 9-14 (84.2 rating, 6 TDs, 5 INTs) before his season-ending Achilles tear in Week 15. His performance drop coincided with the Colts' collapse from 8-2 to 8-9 after a seven-game losing streak. The question for 2026 is whether he can recapture that elite first-half production and whether the Achilles injury will impact his mobility (per NFL offseason power rankings: No. 21 Indianapolis Colts were the talk of the NFL before a hard fall).

PFF flags this as a boom-or-bust signing. Jones led the Colts to 8 wins in his first 10 games in 2025, but his production dropped sharply in weeks 9-14, posting a 53.2 passing grade (third-worst in the league for that stretch) before the Achilles injury. His season-long 68.7 grade was relatively average with 13 big-time throws and 18 turnover-worthy plays. The Colts locked him in at the franchise tag ($37M) while other options like Murray and Tua went for veteran minimum—a high-risk bet given the no-first-round-picks situation through 2027 (per 2026 NFL Free Agency: 8 boom-or-bust signings).

Recent News

Open Questions

(scoped to this player — pulled from Fantasy Football Open Questions)

Coaches shaping Daniel's role

Shane SteichenHead CoachJim Bob CooterOffensive CoordinatorAlex TanneyPassing Game CoordinatorChris HewittPass Game Coordinator / Secondary CoachCam TurnerQuarterbacksChris WattAssistant Offensive LineTony Sparano Jr.Offensive Line

What the Experts Are Saying

Establish The RunWay Too Early 2026 Fantasy Football Mock Draft
Fantasy Points Fantasy FootballDrake Maye and Puka Nacua | Fantasy Football Takeaways to Prep for 2026 (Part 1)
Mayo Media Network2026 Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings | Biggest Draft Values & Busts