Daniel Jones is officially ready for full-team drills when the Colts open training camp this Wednesday! After tearing his Achilles tendon less than eight months ago, this dude’s recovery is straight up remarkable. He’s been grinding, and it sounds like he’s ahead of schedule, which is exactly what Indy needs after how last season ended.
From 8-2 to 8-9: How Jones’ Injury Derailed Everything
Remember how good the Colts looked early last season? They were sitting pretty at 8-2 before Jones’ injuries started piling up. First, he was gutting it out, playing for weeks through a fractured left fibula. That’s some serious grit, but it caught up to him. The team dropped games to the Chiefs in Week 12 and the Jaguars in Week 13 with a hobbled Jones under center.
Then, the big one hit: a right Achilles tear on December 7th in a Week 14 loss to the Jaguars. Just brutal. That knocked him out for good, forcing the Colts to throw in rookie Riley Leonard and then, get this, a 44-year-old Philip Rivers who’d been retired for over four years! Predictably, the wheels fell off, and the Colts lost their final seven games, limping to an 8-9 finish. What a turn from that 8-2 start, all because their starting QB went down.
Can DJ Return to Top Form?
Before the injuries, Jones was absolutely balling out. Through the first 10 weeks of the 2025 season, he wasn’t just good; he was one of the best QBs in the league. We’re talking first in passing yards and first in expected points added per play, plus fourth in yards per attempt. He earned that two-year, $88 million deal after originally joining the Colts on a one-year, $14 million contract to compete with Anthony Richardson. He won that battle, no question.
Jones sounds confident, saying, “I’m feeling good. Plan is to be back in 11-on-11 full-team drills Wednesday.” He feels he “can do everything” and is “in a really good spot.” But hey, an Achilles tear is no joke. Other QBs like Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers have had a tough time coming back from it, though it’s fair to say Jones is younger at 29 compared to where they were in their careers. Still, everyone will be watching his comfort working from under center and how the Colts manage his workload in the coming weeks.
The Colts kick off their season on September 13th. All eyes will be on Jones to see if he can get back to that top-tier form and lead his team like he did before the injury storm hit. This is going to be one to watch!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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