The Indianapolis Colts have achieved more than the brightest optimist envisaged this season. But with the playoffs in sight, a concerning injury to starting quarterback Daniel Jones threatens to derail everything.
Jones has been a revelation for the Colts. He beat out Anthony Richardson for the No. 1 job in the summer, and the No. 6 overall selection in the 2019 NFL Draft seized what was his final opportunity to cement his status as a productive starter in the league.
Indianapolis signaled its intent to move forward with Jones long-term by trading for All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner. That was a massive statement of purpose, but some shaky recent displays have raised doubts about his ability to take the Colts where they want to go.
Daniel Jones is playing through a fractured fibula, and the Colts must adjust accordingly
According to Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network, there might be a reason for Jones' regression. The respected insider confirmed that his lower leg injury is actually a fracture in his fibula. He's been a full participant in practice, and the Duke product is planning to play through the complication.
"Colts QB Daniel Jones, who has been dealing with a lower leg injury, suffered a fracture in his fibula, sources say. Jones was a full participant today and one source said, “He looked good.” Jones will continue to try to play through it. Toughness never questioned."Ian Rapoport
As Rapoport stated, nobody can ever question Jones' toughness. He's highly competitive and doesn't want to give up everything he's worked so hard to attain this season. The risk of causing more damage to the injury rises with every snap, and teams will have a big target on his legs to improve their own fortunes moving forward.
This is something the Colts have to scheme around. They were already heavily reliant on running back Jonathan Taylor, but this must be enhanced now. Keeping Jones upright is also crucial, but Indianapolis's offensive line is accomplished enough to keep concerns to a minimum until the issue gets better.
It's no time for half measures. The Colts sit atop the AFC South, but the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars both fancy their chances of going on a late run. The margin for error remains razor-thin, so Jones cannot be hesitant for fear of injuring his leg further in the coming weeks.
If he's out there, he'll be expected to perform. But the Colts must alter their strategy accordingly to prevent more problems from surfacing.