Daniel Jones keeps his job, at least for now. After a 16-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings dropped the Indianapolis Colts to 2-5, coach Shane Steichen said he is not considering a quarterback change. "I have not thought about a quarterback change," Steichen said, according to CBS Sports, adding that he has a ton of faith in Jones.
The loss ended on Jones' arm. With 1:39 left and the Colts needing a touchdown, he threw an interception to safety Harrison Smith two plays into the final drive. He finished 13 of 22 for 108 yards and was sacked four times.
Under siege
Minnesota's defense has stymied plenty of quarterbacks, but the matchup was especially unkind to Jones, who has been among the league's worst passers under pressure. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores blitzed him on 85.2% of his dropbacks, the highest rate by any defense in a single game in the Next Gen Stats era, which dates to 2016.
It is a sharp fall from last season, when Jones powered the Colts' hot start. Through Week 7 he ranks among the NFL's least efficient passers, and the Colts sit 25th in total offense. Jones said his coach's support means a lot and that he needs to do a better job putting the team in position to win.
Few alternatives
The options behind him are thin. Anthony Richardson, the backup in his fourth season, has made just 15 starts in three years, with more interceptions (13) than touchdowns (11) and a 50.6% completion rate, and the Colts declined his fifth-year option. Second-year Riley Leonard has been inactive as the emergency third quarterback.
Jones is also expensive. Former general manager Chris Ballard, fired this month, extended him in March on a two-year deal worth an average of $44 million a year with $60 million guaranteed, despite a torn Achilles. His $46.8 million cap hit next season makes him the likely starter again in 2027, and the Sauce Gardner trade left the Colts without a first-round pick to find a successor.
Reporting sources: CBS Sports Headlines, “Colts' Shane Steichen has 'not thought' about QB change despite Daniel Jones' struggles”.