Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard is also a hoops guy, sort of. As someone who runs a sports team for a living, he may not have that time off the clock to stay up to date with the NBA and other major tournaments.
He does know, however, that some of the best players in the NBA, like Daniel Jones, have had successful returns from Achilles injuries. Some even go to the same doctors who treat NFL stars.
That's why, with Jones looking extremely sharp and fairly ahead of schedule throughout training camp, the Colts' GM went so far as to compare him to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum. And while he didn't get his numbers right, the point is still valid.
Daniel Jones' miracle injury recovery can change everything for the Colts
"An Achilles injury is a major injury, yes, but there's been enough cases where people have come back. I mean, watch (Jayson) Tatum score 50, like nine and a half months after, 10 months. I mean, so there's cases. We had Blackmon – Julian, who came back the next year. I mean, we've had a number of rehabs here that have come back. So, we felt who he was and the work he would put in. We thought he was going to be – the percentages were high that he was going to get back," Ballard said.
Tatum's season-high after his anticipated Achilles comeback was actually 32, so Ballard may want to double-check his numbers. That said, watching a heavy-usage guy like Tatum make an early return, suffer no setbacks, and look as explosive and mobile as he was before the injury is certainly encouraging.
Of course, we're talking about different sports and physical demands, but sports science has made huge strides in recent years. What was once a career-threatening injury has become a lesser deal, and Jones' impressive recovery is just another proof.
Jones has taken extensive snaps under center in training camp. That's not a minor detail, given how much pressure he's putting on his rehabbed Achilles with those movements. He's an underrated scrambler who's much more mobile than he gets credit for, and watching him move freely and without limitations, limps, or favoring one of his legs is huge.
The Colts understandably kept him off the field in the preseason to protect their big financial investment. Granted, he might have to shake off some rust to get a hold of the speed of the game again, and there's nothing like real reps for that. Even so, the risk far outweighed the return, especially after watching him dominate in joint practices.
This team has struggled with a lack of continuity at the most important position in team sports. They trust that Jones can finally give them some stability, and while there are still some areas of concern on defense, having Jones return to his early 2025 level can change everything for this team.
Ballard is essentially putting his job on the line with Jones, but his gamble on a player coming off a major injury is looking better by the day. Maybe he can't guard Luka Doncic and then knock down a three at the end of the court, but as long as he can stand tall in the pocket and find the open guy, Jones and the Colts should do just fine.
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