The Indianapolis Colts may be second-guessing their decision to retain Daniel Jones before the 2026 season. Following a successful but injury-shortened 2025, the Colts signed Jones to a two-year, $88 million contract in March. Six weeks into the season, head coach Shane Steichen is already fielding questions about changing quarterbacks.
Jones continued to struggle in Sunday's upset loss to the Tennessee Titans, completing 22 of 42 passes for 269 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. The 29-year-old has averaged just 5.9 yards per pass attempt with a 59.6% completion rate and the third-lowest passer rating (71.1) among all quarterbacks who have started every game for their team this season. After Week 6's loss, ESPN's Dan Graziano determined that it's not an overreaction to call the Jones extension "the biggest mistake any team made this offseason." The insider envisioned potential changes in a column published the evening before the Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard.
"It seems as if things are getting worse in Indianapolis instead of better," Graziano wrote. "And if Jones doesn't make an incredible turnaround and get this team into the playoffs, a whole lot of seats are going to start feeling pretty darn hot out there." The Colts fell to 2-4 on Sunday as the Titans secured their first win of the season. Jones hasn't scored multiple touchdowns in a game since returning from an Achilles injury.
Despite his struggles, Steichen confirmed that Jones will start the Colts' Week 7 game against the Minnesota Vikings. "He's aware that he has to produce and play better," Steichen said Monday, per ESPN's Stephen Holder. "And I think the biggest thing is the takeaways, the turnovers.
We've got to do a great job of taking care of the football, especially in the red zone, when you've already got three points. You've got to be smart down there. And I believe he'll do a great job of that moving forward."
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