Daniel Jones' Potential Colts Benching Discussed in New NFL Rumors After Buckner, Nelson Trades

The Indianapolis Colts are planning to stick with Daniel Jones for now after selling off multiple key players ahead of the trade deadline, NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported Saturday.

The Colts "haven't discussed benching" Jones after a 2-5 start led to the franchise trading Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner, Pelissero reported on his Substack.

Pelissero noted injuries to Jones' receiving corps, as well as the lingering impact of the Achilles tendon the quarterback tore last December, could factor into the Colts' evaluation of his play.

Jones received the transition tag before he re-signed in Indianapolis this offseason on a two-year, $88 million deal. General manager Chris Ballard, who negotiated the contract, was fired earlier this month.

That deal includes $10.51 million in injury-guaranteed 2027 salary, which becomes fully guaranteed as of the fifth day of the next league year, per Spotrac. Pelissero noted that date "could factor into the Colts' thinking about making a change if and when they're eliminated from playoff contention."

Jones suffered a season-ending torn Achilles last December and made his return to the field just 280 days later.

He has been playing most of the season without wideout Alec Pierce and tight end Tyler Warren, although Warren has been cleared to play ahead of Sunday's divisional matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The quarterback has completed 59.6 percent of his passes through his first seven games of the season while throwing for 1,398 receiving yards with four touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Jones was most recently held to 108 yards with no touchdowns and a game-ending interception in last Sunday's 16-10 loss at the Minnesota Vikings.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen said after that loss Jones was the team's "starting quarterback right now."

"We've got to be able to throw the ball better," Steichen said Monday, before adding he has faith in Jones to improve going forward.

"He's proven that he can do it. We've all seen it," Steichen said. "We've got to go do it, though. He's got to play better moving forward, and he'll tell you that himself, but I haven't lost that confidence in him."

The Colts made two major moves later that week by trading Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for a total of three draft picks.

Jones acknowledged after the trades it was "natural to have some of those thoughts" wondering about his future in Indianapolis in the wake of Nelson and Buckner's departures (h/t The Athletic's James Boyd).

The Colts have Anthony Richardson Sr. and Riley Leonard waiting behind Jones on the depth chart should Steichen decide to make a quarterback change down the stretch.

Whether Jones is able to start turning things around Saturday in Jacksonville could impact both whether Richardson sees playing time this season and if the Colts decide to keep Jones on the roster past his March contract deadline.