The Indianapolis Colts started the 2025 season looking like underdogs sure to fail, and then quickly shocked the league by not only going on a winning streak but also by having one of the best records in the AFC. There were concerns that this was due to nothing more than an easy schedule, but the Colts weren't having that at all.
However, the Colts have begun to collapse, with quarterback Daniel Jones looking more like the dud fans saw in New York, and head coach Shane Steichen again making questionable coaching decisions, and it's all happening at the worst possible time for Indy. Not only is the upcoming stretch of the season their toughest yet, but the Colts have also begun to lose key games.
Now, they're set to take on the Houston Texans Sunday, a divisional matchup that is more vital to win than ever. After a disastrous Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Colts can no longer rely on having the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, or even winning the AFC South. But a victory over the Texans may have just become a little bit harder.
Colts will have to dig deep as CJ Stroud returns for key AFC South showdown
Texans QB C.J. Stroud has been out on concussion protocol since Week 9 and is finally set to return, just in time to play the Colts in Week 13. (One of those weeks was a bye week.)
Complicating matters is that, while Stroud is returning healthy, Indy's quarterback is decidedly not. While Jones has been struggling more lately, it was finally revealed that he has a fibula fracture — one he is going to attempt to play through for the rest of the season. No one could doubt how tough Jones is, as he's continued to be a full participant at practice, but still... ouch.
It was already known that Jones was having a calf issue, but the injury is clearly more severe than fans originally expected. And unfortunately for Jones, there's really no choice but for him to play; who else is there? Anthony Richardson is on injured reserve, and Riley Leonard would be nothing short of a nuclear option.
Like it or not, if the Colts are going to win, they need Jones. And now, the victory over the Texans is a little bit harder with Stroud back in the pocket at full strength. Lou Anarumo's defense has been doing a great job so far this season, and the Colts will need that now more than ever.
Of course, the Texans' real strength is their defense, not the offense. And Stroud hadn't been playing his best before his injury, either. At the end of the day, it's clearer than ever that Indy needs to lean on Jonathan Taylor — only the best running back in the league right now, no big deal — and the defense to win this one.