There is growing worry in Indianapolis that quarterback Daniel Jones might be dealing with more pain than the team is admitting. Last week he suddenly appeared on the injury report with a fibula issue. He did practice fully the next day, and the Colts cleared him, so it didn’t seem too serious at the time.
But this week the concern has picked up again. Jones showed up on the injury report for a second straight week, and this time he was listed as limited on Wednesday. That is actually worse than how things ended last week.
On Thursday things looked even more shaky. Two Colts reporters openly shared their concerns after watching him practice. James Boyd from The Athletic said Jones did not look like his usual self. His movements seemed stiff and slower than normal, likely because of the fibula problem. Boyd also pointed out that Jones skipped some of the practice reps, which is another sign he is not fully healthy.
ESPN’s Stephen Holder added that the Colts are acting a little too casual about the injury. He said the whole situation feels “mysterious,” and the team might be downplaying something more serious.
A practice video of Jones backs up the concern. He looks like he is moving carefully and not putting full power into his steps. The fact he is not doing every rep is another red flag for his chances in Week thirteen.
The Colts are in a very tough position. If Jones is not fully healthy, they should sit him so the injury doesn’t get worse and ruin the rest of the season. But they are also in a tight race with the Jaguars and Texans in the AFC South. Every game matters.
Their backup options make the decision even harder. If Jones can’t play, the team would have to turn to rookie Riley Leonard or veteran Brett Rypien. Either one would be a massive drop-off for the offense.
Jones’ status will need close attention for the rest of the week. Even if he does play on Sunday, one hard hit could make things much worse.
