Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones will be out for the next 6-8 months and is expected to return for training camp, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Jones underwent surgery Tuesday after rupturing his Achilles tendon in Sunday’s 36-19 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and was ruled out for the season. Jones was also dealing with a fractured fibula and a calf injury before he suffered the Achilles injury.
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Before going down, Jones was having a career season in his first year with the Colts. He threw for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Jones was just 104 yards short of his career-high for passing yards and six touchdowns away from his personal best in passing touchdowns.
Despite the change in scenario, injuries have continued to plague the 28-year-old quarterback. Jones has not missed an entire season in his career. He played in 16 games in 2022, resting only during the final week to prepare for the playoffs.
Jones spent his first six seasons with the New York Giants before being released and signing with the Minnesota Vikings midway through last season. This offseason, he signed a one-year, $14 million contract and ultimately won the starting job over Anthony Richardson. Jones will be a free agent after this season.
Rookie quarterback Riley Leonard finished the game for the Colts, throwing for 145 yards and one interception. Leonard, who dealt with a knee injury earlier this week in practice, was cleared to play on Sunday.
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With injuries to Jones, Leonard and Richardson, the Colts signed 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers to the practice squad on Tuesday. Rivers, who last played in 2020, is set to start against the 10-3 Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
In Rivers’ last season with the Colts, he threw for 4,169 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He will rely on running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., rookie tight end Tyler Warren and wide receiver Alec Pierce to ease the burden in his first game in five years.
Taylor leads the NFL with 1,356 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. The Seahawks’ defense is ranked sixth in fewest yards allowed. The Colts are 8-5 and sit third in the AFC South.
