The Indianapolis Colts lost their starting quarterback late last season. And while they were already spiraling down, losing Daniel Jones to an Achilles injury all but doomed all hopes of making a playoff run.
Given the delicate nature of the injury, it was hard to be optimistic about Jones being back on the field for Week 1. Even if he pushed for that goal, he'd likely have to miss a big stretch of training camp. That's why watching him out there in 11-on-11 drills, with no limitations, was somewhat surprising.
Notably, Jones wasn't just out there. He wasn't going through the motions and trying to get his legs back under him. He was slinging the ball, wheeling, and dealing. When asked about him, Josh Downs summed it up pretty easily— he didn't even look hurt.
Indianapolis Colts' Daniel Jones looks like he never left
"We were in Florida a couple weeks ago throwing, and I actually forgot he had gotten injured," receiver Josh Downs said. "He looked so good out there."
The Colts haven't had any sort of stability at quarterback since Andrew Luck's surprising — and traumatic — retirement. For the first time in years, they might finally get that with Jones, which is why Chris Ballard went out of his way to keep him in town for the next two years.
Of course, Jones has a long history of injuries, so there were more than plenty of reasons to be skeptical about his recovery. But as Downs pointed out, he hasn't missed a beat, and he'd probably be ready to take the field if the season opener were on Sunday.
Achilles injuries are major and sometimes even career-altering. But sports medicine has made major breakthroughs in recent years, and Jones attacked his rehab aggressively to miss as little time as possible.
Notably, listening to Downs, of all people, might be even more significant. He's entering a contract year and is coming off a disappointing season, and with Michael Pittman Jr. gone, their rapport — or lack thereof — will be paramount for the passing game's success. He must step up, so watching them spend extra time working on their chemistry is certainly a big step in the right direction.
Daniel Jones' career has been a bit of a roller-coaster, and the mere fact that the jury is still out on him after seven full seasons is the best way to explain that. Nevertheless, while the lows have been way too low, even his biggest detractor has to acknowledge that he's got all the physical tools to be a franchise-caliber quarterback.
The Colts' stout offensive line will keep him out of harm's way, and he should also take better care of his body by limiting some of his scrambles and not taking any unnecessary hits. But so far, it looks like he has never been hurt.
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