The Indianapolis Colts are in an interesting, but familiar, spot this offseason, as they are searching for a starting quarterback in 2026. Indy has been in this position since Andrew Luck retired, but this time is different because the franchise has a guy it likes in Daniel Jones. However, he’s set to be a free agent and is also recovering from a torn Achilles.
While the Colts will likely re-sign Jones, he probably won’t be ready by Week 1 of the 2026 season. That means Indianapolis has to find a starter who can keep the team afloat until Jones is healthy.
ESPN’s Seth Walder believes he knows the guy Indy will turn to. In a recent piece predicting the Week 1 starter for all 32 teams, Walder predicted that Indianapolis will call up its old friend Gardner Minshew.
Gardner Minshew predicted to be Indianapolis Colts Week 1 starter in 2026
Minshew played the 2023 season with Indianapolis, which was Shane Steichen’s first season as a head coach. Steichen spent time coaching Minshew with the Philadelphia Eagles, and brung the veteran quarterback with him to Indianapolis. Walder explains why Steichen could turn to the quarterback again, as Indy finds itself in a bind.
"Enter Minshew. The journeyman had more success playing for Shane Steichen in 2023 than at any other point in his career. Steichen got much more out of Minshew -- who recorded a 60.4 QBR that season -- than he has out of Joe Flacco (50.0) or Anthony Richardson Sr. (44.4)… Because Minshew star's has fallen, he would be a cheap option for the Colts to pair with second-year QB Riley Leonard while they wait for Jones to heal."Seth Walder (ESPN)
In that 2023 season, Minshew started 13 games, completing 62.2% of his passes for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He also rushed for three additional touchdowns, and the Colts went 7-6 in his starts.
Since then, the veteran quarterback hasn’t done much, completing 66.3% of his passes for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in his 10 games with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024.
Minshew started just one game for the Kansas City Chiefs last season, after Patrick Mahomes went down, but the start was short-lived, as he also injured himself. However, Minshew’s knee injury wasn’t as severe as initially thought, and that could give him a chance to return to Indianapolis and start.