NFL Insiders Reportedly 'Buying the Hype' on Daniel Jones' Strong Play With Colts

NFL insiders are "buying the hype" surrounding Daniel Jones' 4-1 start to his first season with the Indianapolis Colts, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday.

Fowler noted this belief comes with "slight apprehension," particularly about Jones' deep ball, from insiders watching the apparent step forward the former New York Giants quarterback has taken under head coach Shane Steichen.

The ESPN insider also wrote there is some concern that the concussion injury absence of wide receiver Alec Pierce, who enjoyed a breakout 2024 season in part thanks to his ability to catch jump balls, will test Jones' ability to avoid the turnovers he struggled with in New York.

"What's becoming clear with these reclamation QBs is that belief and confidence are powerful," Fowler wrote. "Steichen is a skilled playcaller with a deft quarterback touch who happens to believe wholeheartedly in Jones as a player and person. That carries a lot of weight and has helped Jones rebound."

ESPN's Dan Graziano shared similar insight from his conversations with insiders around the NFL.

"Most people I talk to believe Jones can continue to succeed in Shane Steichen's system if he stays healthy... with RB Jonathan Taylor running the way he's running, a strong offensive line in front of him and Jones' own ability to create plays with his legs, there seems to be a belief that the infrastructure around Jones is solid enough to sustain — again, assuming he stays healthy," Graziano wrote wrote.

The Colts improved to 4-1 with a 40-6 blowout of the visiting Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday, during Taylor ran in three touchdowns. Jones meanwhile went 20-for-29 for 212 yards with two touchdowns and a two-point conversion while committing no turnovers.

Jones has now recorded six touchdowns to two interceptions while taking just four total sacks through the first five games of the season.

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Taylor leads the NFL through five games with 480 rushing yards (96.0 per game), while the Colts' offensive line led by starters Bernhard Raimann, Quenton Nelson, Tanor Bortolini, Matt Goncalves and Braden Smith was ranked second in the NFL by Pro Football Focus ahead of Week 6.

Next up on the Colts' schedule is a Sunday matchup with the visiting Arizona Cardinals and what has so far this season been one of the most effective run defenses in the NFL. Jones' ability to continue developing his passing game while avoiding turnovers could be especially key if the unit is able to limit Taylor this weekend.