Entering Week 4, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones had turned the ball over five times in three games. This was not a new issue for the QB, though. Just before he tore his Achilles tendon in Week 14 last season, Jones had begun turning the ball over quite a bit (eight times in five games).
Jones was re-signed this past offseason to a two-year deal worth as much as $88 million, but to earn that second year, he needed to show he was still worthy of being a very good long-term QB1. Against a not-great Washington Commanders defense, Jones had every opportunity to do just that.
Instead, it was Jonathan Taylor and the run game (as well as going through most of the game facing a third-string quarterback) that earned the Colts the victory. For Jones? Not exactly his best outing.
Knee-jerk reactions to Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones' Week 4 performance
Daniel Jones absolutely must clean up the turnovers
Daniel Jones began the game with a turnover, and it was a prime example of the issues he has had. Under pressure, he failed to have any kind of ball security and had it knocked out of his hand after left tackle Bernhard Raimann was pushed into him.
Jones later threw a bad interception, and the offense was stalling due to self-inflicted wounds. Head coach Shane Steichen is almost certainly going to tell the press that Jones just needs to "clean up" his game, but at this point Indy fans need to know: Is the Daniel Jones who has turned the ball over 15 times in his last nine games the true version?
Daniel Jones is fully healthy
Even while Jones struggled to a performance that saw him complete 19 of 34 passes for 143 yards and a quarterback rating of just 53.9, the positive is that he isn't hurt. He ran for a touchdown in the second half after running around the end and outrunning the defense. That was the kind of play he couldn't have done after breaking his fibula last season (before tearing his Achilles tendon).
This means that whatever is happening with Jones might just be mechanical. If that can be corrected, he should get back to playing as well as he did in the first half of last year. If that happens, Indianapolis should make the playoffs.
Daniel Jones misses Alec Pierce
Even if Indianapolis had had Keenan Allen, who missed the game with a groin injury, the offense wouldn't have been as explosive as it is with Pierce. He takes the top off the defense better than any other receiver in the NFL. Without him, everything that happens with Indy is close to the line of scrimmage.
In other words, part of what is going wrong with Pierce might be schematic. Defenses know the quarterback isn't likely to test them deep very often without Pierce, so the pressure he faces is greater than when he has his best wide receiver.
Daniel Jones isn't earning his new contract
Jones simply has to play better. All those turnovers are going to prove costly eventually. In the last two weeks, Indianapolis has faced a Houston Texans team with a terrible offense and missing wideout Nico Collins. The Washington Commanders were playing with a third-string quarterback. Jones' growing number of errors didn't hurt his team, but will.
He took a chance on himself by re-signing with the Indianapolis Colts for only two years. He should have gone for more, with more financial security. Should the team release him next offseason, Indy could save $38 million. Jones isn't playing like a quarterback who is making that much, let alone the $44 million on average he is currently paid.
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