The Daniel Jones contract situation with the Indianapolis Colts took a fascinating turn after the quarterback’s Achilles injury.
Daniel Jones Contract Talk
The Daniel Jones Achilles injury is awful in so many ways.
But I do want to shed a light on his toughness.
He was already playing with a broken bone in his fibula… Then he ruptured his Achilles and still chose to walk off the field instead of using a cart.
And later in the… pic.twitter.com/tDoKxrqNdK
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 8, 2025
This was supposed to be Jones’ comeback year. After being released by the New York Giants during the 2024 season, Jones bet on himself and signed a one-year “prove it” deal with the Colts.
Through 13 games, Jones certainly proved he deserved to be a starting NFL quarterback.
The Colts’ offense thrived with Jones under center, ranking in the top 10 in total offense, passing, rushing, and scoring. Statistically, Jones is 261 of 384 for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. On the ground, the mobile Jones rushed for 164 yards and five touchdowns.
As a team, the Colts jumped out to an 8-2 start before losing their last three games. Still, the Colts were competing for their first playoff spot since 2020.
Unfortunately, Jones suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 14.
Off the field, Jones likely cost himself millions, as the Colts would have likely rewarded the 28-year-old with a long-term contract. The Achilles injury likely keeps Jones off the field for most of the 2026 season.
With Jones set to become a free agent, what will he do this offseason?
A lucrative long-term deal is probably off the table. It would be irresponsible to commit multiple years and a nine-figure salary to Jones without seeing how his recovery goes.
The first, and most likely, option is a short-term deal with the Colts. ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggested that the Colts sign Jones to a one-year deal or a two-year deal with incentives. That way, if Jones recovers and plays well, he will be compensated more in his second year than in his first.
Jones’ market will play a factor in his contract. The Minnesota Vikings signed Jones after the Giants waived him. Minnesota wanted to bring Jones back to compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting position. However, Jones opted to sign with the Colts, believing he had a better chance to play.
With McCarthy struggling, would the Vikings want to bring Jones back to be a backup or potential starter in two seasons? It’s not out of the realm of possibility, considering the Vikings should bring in a veteran to be with McCarthy next season.
If the Colts used the franchise or transition tag on Jones, the number would fall between $39 million and $46 million.
Colts QB Options in 2025
#Colts QBs Philip Rivers, Riley Leonard and Brett Rypien throwing. The order has been Rivers, Leonard and Rypien so far in every drill. pic.twitter.com/CV7wgzLWSL
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) December 10, 2025
With Jones out, the Colts need quarterback depth. Riley Leonard replaced Jones in the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Leonard is dealing with a knee injury, but he practiced on Wednesday, a good sign that he’ll play in Week 15.
Anthony Richardson remains on IR, and Brett Rypien is on the practice squad.
Then, there’s Philip Rivers, who shocked the entire NFL world by coming out of retirement to sign with the Colts’ practice squad. Because of his history with Shane Steichen, do not be surprised if Rivers starts in one of the Colts’ final four games this season.
