Former Vikings QB Already ahead of Schedule for Big Return

NFL.com: Jones Is Back at It

NFL.com did an “around the horn” of non-draft news to know this week about each team, and for the Colts, that was an advantageous development on Jones.

The staff wrote, “QB Daniel Jones (Achilles) has begun throwing the football and is performing well on his dropbacks, head coach Shane Steichen told reporters Tuesday. Jones underwent surgery in early December after suffering the season-ending injury.”

Jones tore his Achilles tendon in November, and sometimes that injury can take a full year to heal. It seems he’s beating the odds, at least from the perspective of an April update.

ESPN’s Stephen Holder on Jones’s recovery: “The Colts have said throughout the offseason that they and their doctors believe a return for the start of the 2026 season is well within reason. To ensure that happens, the approach to Jones’ rehab has been an all-hands-on-deck approach for the organization.”

“To that end, Shane Steichen said he has consulted with Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens on how the team oversaw the Achilles recovery of Boston star Jayson Tatum, who sustained a torn Achilles in the 2025 postseason but has returned to the lineup and become a force for the Celtics. Both Tatum and Jones also shared the same surgeon for their Achilles repair.”

Tatum is doing just fine in Boston, as the Celtics are the frontrunners from the NBA’s Eastern Conference to reach the NBA Finals.

“Still, the Colts will be cautious with Jones. They have not decided how much, if at all, he’ll participate in offseason workouts,” Holder added.

A Fat Contract, Too

When the offseason began, Jones’s status in Indianapolis wasn’t necessarily mysterious; most Colts fans knew the club loved him and would re-sign him. The questions were when and for how much?

Then, in March, just a couple of days into free agency, the Colts put their money where their mouth was, inking Jones to an extension worth $88 million over two seasons. The deal made him the NFL’s 13th-highest-paid quarterback per average annual value, which is fair because Jones played well before the Achilles tragedy.

On Sep 28, 2025, in Inglewood, California, Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) delivers a pass during the first half against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, stepping into the throw with defenders closing in as Indianapolis looks to move the ball through the air in a road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.

The contract includes $60 million guaranteed and is expandable to $100 million with incentivized bonuses.

The 2025 Performance

Jones’s season was quietly trending down before his December Achilles tear, a decline that largely went unnoticed by the NFL world. While things initially looked good on the surface, his underlying efficiency numbers told a different story.

For a significant stretch, Jones appeared to be a breakout quarterback — even an MVP candidate. He led Indianapolis to an impressive 8-2 start during September and October, earning the nickname “Indiana Jones” from fans and fueling the MVP conversations. Before his injury, he was on pace for outstanding full-season statistics:

• 4,055 passing yards
• 31 total touchdowns
• 10 interceptions
• 68.0% completion
• 7th in EPA+CPOE

However, the second half of the season saw his efficiency plummet. Here’s how Daniel Jones’ ranking in the NFL by EPA+CPOE changed in 2025:

• Before Week 9: 4th
• After Week 9: 28th

The Achilles injury proved to be the final, devastating blow. The Colts unraveled, their offense lost all footing, and Indianapolis grew desperate enough to coax Philip Rivers out of retirement. That gamble, however, failed to revive their playoff hopes.

2026 Expectations

The Colts traded two 1st-Rounders last November to obtain superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets. That was when the season was straight cooking, Jones hadn’t begun his dip, and the Colts had Super Bowl dreams.

On Sep 7, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana, former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning taps Daniel Jones (17) on the back before a game at Lucas Oil Stadium, a brief pregame moment connecting past and present as the franchise legend offers encouragement ahead of the season-opening contest. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars-Imagn Images.

Now, in the 2026 offseason, Indianapolis has renewed those hopes. A team can’t trade two 1st-Rounders and not shoot for the stars the following season. Therefore, the Colts are in it to win it, and a healthy Jones may put them in the thick of the AFC hunt.

Jones will operate with these offensive weapons from a pre-draft standpoint:

• Jonathan Taylor (RB)
• Alec Pierce (WR)
• Tyler Warren (TE)
• Josh Downs (WR)

The Colts may need to sign a free-agent wide receiver after the draft, as intriguing options like Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, and Tyreek Hill remain unsigned. Indianapolis could also explore the trade sweepstakes of Brandon Aiyuk with the San Francisco 49ers.

Jones will turn 29 next month.