Colts 2026 NFL Schedule Released for Jonathan Taylor's MVP Push amid Daniel Jones' Injury Recovery

The schedule for Daniel Jones' comeback season is set.

The NFL's 2026 schedule release showed the Indianapolis Colts what exactly it will take to get back into the playoffs once Jones returns from last December's season-ending Achilles injury.

Full schedule information available on the team's official website.

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Analysis

The Colts are facing one of the lightest schedules in the NFL after their collapse down the stretch of the 2025 season left this team third in the AFC South.

Only three NFL teams are facing opponents with a lower average 2025 success rate than the Colts, whose opponents put together a .465 win percentage last season.

In addition to the usual AFC South opponents, the Colts are matched up this season with the AFC North and NFC East.

Their division ranking has also set the Colts on track for similarly-placed teams in the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings.

What the Colts look like in their early-season matchups will depend in large part on Jones, who underwent season-ending Achilles surgery in December.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen said as of April 21 that Jones had resumed throwing and that the Colts were hoping to have him back by training camp.

Should Jones stay on that recovery timeline, the Colts will hope his return combined with another strong season from star running back Jonathan Taylor will be enough to push this team back into the playoff picture this winter.

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Pivotal Matchups

The path back to the playoffs starts in the AFC South.

This team will be tasked with division matchups against returning playoff teams in the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans, as well as against a Tennessee Titans squad looking to bounce back from a three-win campaign during their second season with quarterback Cam Ward.

Last season's win percentage doesn't mean that non-division opponents will be easy matchups for the Colts, who aren't the only team hoping to rebound after missing the playoffs last season.

The list of opponents primed for redemption this season includes Baltimore Ravens, who are hoping a head coaching change will help them make another playoff run with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.

Another candidate for improvements are the Washington Commanders, who are looking to replicate the success of their 2023 season behind a healthier campaign from Jayden Daniels.

The New York Giants are also hoping to be a tougher opponent this season in their second campaign with Jaxson Dart, while the Kansas City Chiefs are looking to bounce back once Patrick Mahomes is able to return from his season-ending knee injury.

How quickly these teams are able to bounce back after struggling in 2025 will shape how difficult this schedule looks down the stretch.

One of the toughest road matchups of the season will take place in Philadelphia. The Colts haven't defeated the Eagles on the road since 2002.

 The Colts are also headed overseas to London to take on Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This marks the second straight season featuring an international game for the Colts, who claimed an overtime win against the Atlanta Falcons last November in a Week 10 matchup in Berlin.