Colts QB Daniel Jones Takes Major Step in Comeback from Torn Achilles
Daniel Jones' start to his NFL career may not have been great, but he finally showed why he was a first-round pick in his first season with the Indianapolis Colts last year, leading the team to an 8-2 start and, for a stretch, the league's best offense.
Jones had an up-and-down career with the New York Giants, the team that drafted him sixth overall in 2019, but he revitalized himself with the Colts last season. Through the first 10 games, he led the team to 3.17 points per drive, the fourth-highest mark by any team through that span this century.
But just as the Colts looked poised to snap their five-year playoff drought, Jones ruptured his right Achilles tendon and was ruled out for the season. Indianapolis eventually missed the postseason and finished with an 8-9 record.
Believing Jones can help the team build on the progress it showed last season, the Colts handed him a two-year, $88 million contract with $50 million fully guaranteed. While there were concerns about his injury, the quarterback is progressing well and was cleared on Monday to participate in 7-on-7 drills.
The 29-year-old was throwing throughout his recovery since April, and the Colts have steadily increased his workload during OTAs, with his participation in 7-on-7 drills marking what coach Shane Steichen called a "huge" step.
"To get him out there in 7-on-7 was huge, to get him in the fold, running plays with the guys," Steichen said, via ESPN. "We'll keep that trend going, probably through the end of OTAs and then, obviously, get him into team stuff at training camp. It's spring, we don't play for a while, so we've got to be smart with his injury. But he's making great progress."
Jones initially suffered a broken bone in his left leg, and he didn't look like himself in the games that followed before eventually rupturing his Achilles tendon during a Week 14 loss at Jacksonville. But the Colts believe he is ahead of schedule and will be ready for the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 13.
"He's been throwing routes with the guys, and we're telling him, 'Don't scramble, it's seven-on-seven, be smart in these situations, if it's not there throw it out of bounds or if you want to drop it on the ground, I'm good with that,'" Steichen added. "But, yeah, he looked good out there today."
The Colts haven't made the playoffs or won 10 games in a season since 2020, and after coming close last year, they'll be hoping Jones can help get them over the line in 2026.
If Jones can return to full health and replicate the form he showed before his injury, Indianapolis could finally have the stability at quarterback needed to end its playoff drought and emerge as a legitimate contender in the AFC.
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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 5:02 AM.