The Indianapolis Colts were hitting its stride during the middle of the 2025 NFL season. At one point, Indianapolis had an 8-3 record, and it looked like they were going to end its playoff drought. Well, the Colts collapsed and finished with an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs due to quarterback Daniel Jones tearing an ACL.
They have not made the playoffs since the 2020 NFL season. There is a lot at stake this season for general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen this upcoming NFL season. If the Colts miss the playoffs, there is a good chance that Ballard and Steichen are probably going to be fired. They also signed Jones to a new contract in the offseason.
With mandatory minicamp about to open up this week for teams across the league, the Colts are thinking about the process to ending the playoff drought in 2026 but also are wondering about Jones’s comeback from a torn ACL that he suffered a season ago. Mike Jones of the Athletic said about the Colts and Jones,
“The Colts had their eyes on one of the top spots in the AFC when their hopes came crashing down as quarterback Daniel Jones tore his right Achilles tendon 13 games into the 2025 season. Now, the quarterback and his teammates eye a strong rebound in their second year together.
Jones has a ways to go before he receives a clean bill of health, but he’s trending in the right direction. Last week, Jones took part in seven-on-seven passing drills during OTAs, and his workload will continue to ramp up. Jones is aiming for a Week 1 return, and the Colts are hoping that he can continue the career revival that he enjoyed in 2025 when he posted career highs in passing yards per game (238.5), yards per attempt (8.1), completion percentage (86 percent) and passer rating (100.2). The Colts also have some sorting out to do with their quarterback depth chart. Journeyman Easton Stick recently signed with the team to provide a veteran backup presence, and the 2025 sixth-rounder Riley Leonard returns. Anthony Richardson also remains on the roster despite being on the trading block.”
“The Colts had their eyes on one of the top spots in the AFC when their hopes came crashing down as quarterback Daniel Jones tore his right Achilles tendon 13 games into the 2025 season. Now, the quarterback and his teammates eye a strong rebound in their second year together.
Jones has a ways to go before he receives a clean bill of health, but he’s trending in the right direction. Last week, Jones took part in seven-on-seven passing drills during OTAs, and his workload will continue to ramp up. Jones is aiming for a Week 1 return, and the Colts are hoping that he can continue the career revival that he enjoyed in 2025 when he posted career highs in passing yards per game (238.5), yards per attempt (8.1), completion percentage (86 percent) and passer rating (100.2). The Colts also have some sorting out to do with their quarterback depth chart. Journeyman Easton Stick recently signed with the team to provide a veteran backup presence, and the 2025 sixth-rounder Riley Leonard returns. Anthony Richardson also remains on the roster despite being on the trading block.”
Jones last season completed 68.0% of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He also rushed for 164 yards on 45 carries and five touchdowns, along with averaging 3.6 yards per carry. Jones is 29 years old. If his knee injury is bothering him during the season, then the Colts are probably going to miss the playoffs.
What makes matters worse for Indianapolis if they miss the playoffs is that the New York Jets own their first-round selection in the 2027 NFL Draft because of the Sauce Gardner trade. The Colts need Jones to be healthy and effective to get them back to the playoffs potentially in the 2026 NFL season.
Follow me on Twitter at @glennkaplan13 more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in college and professional football, “Eye a Strong Rebound”: Indianapolis Colts!
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