Colts GM Chris Ballard sees Daniel Jones as near and long-term answer, says QB has 'really bright future' in Indy
Daniel Jones is recovering from a season-ending Achilles tear. He'll be a free agent in the spring. But Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard sees Jones as the near and long-term answer at quarterback for a franchise that's been spinning the wheel at the position since Andrew Luck retired ahead of the 2019 campaign.
"I think it's mutual on both sides," Ballard said Thursday in his season-ending news conference. "I think Daniel was a really good fit for this organization, and I think this organization and city we're a really good fit for Daniel."
Ballard, who will be in the final year of his contract next season, is confident the Colts can work something out with Jones and his agent, and that Jones will eventually return to form, even noting that the 28-year-old Duke product "rehabs like a wild man."
Jones, whom the New York Giants drafted No. 6 overall in 2019, signed what was reported as a one-year, $14 million deal with the Colts this past offseason. Then, in training camp, he beat out Anthony Richardson Sr., the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft who started 11 games for the Colts last season.
Richardson backed up Jones this season until he fractured his orbital bone during pregame warmups at Lucas Oil Stadium leading up to a Week 6 game against the Arizona Cardinals. Head coach Shane Steichen described the latest of Richardson's injuries as a "fluke accident," which occurred while he was working with a stretching band in the locker room.
The Colts placed Richardson on injured reserve, and he didn't appear in another game the rest of the way, including as Indianapolis scrambled down the stretch to find a replacement for Jones. They famously brought a 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of retirement. Rivers played admirably after close to five seasons without an NFL snap, but the 8-9 Colts went 0-3 in his three starts and were eliminated from postseason contention after starting the season 8-2.
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Ballard took a wait-and-see approach when he was asked about Richardson on Thursday.
"I'll tell you this about Anthony," said Ballard, who is going on his 10th season as Colts GM. "He's a great teammate. He's a great teammate and never sulked, never complained, was doing a great job as a backup quarterback and then he has a freak accident in the locker room."
Ballard added:
"But he's got to still work through the vision [issue] he has, and we'll see what the future holds there. A little bit of bad luck. We'll kind of see going forward how that ends up playing out. A lot of it's going to deal with his health, too."
Ballard also talked about how he was encouraged by what rookie quarterback Riley Leonard showed in his two extensive appearances. He left the door open to Leonard potentially serving as the Colts' QB2 if Richardson can't get to where the Colts hope he can.
It's clear, however, that Ballard's focus is on Jones.
"I mean I've been very stated about when you're chasing the quarterback all the time, it's hard," he said.
"Your margin for error really shrinks down. And I feel very good about Daniel Jones and where he's at, where he's going. Yes, he's got the Achilles, but I think Daniel Jones has got a really bright future here in Indianapolis. And look, there is some comfort knowing that, OK, we know we've got a guy that's proven, that's done it and done some really good things. So that does give you some confidence."
Jones piloted an Indianapolis offense that got off to a historic start this season. He completed a career-high 68% of his passes while averaging a personal-best 8.1 yards per attempt.
Jones was more accurate and decisive under Steichen.
Ballard believes that performance is replicable and that so is the team's success over the first 10 games.
"When we got back from Germany, I'd have told you we had a top-four team in the league," Ballard said. "I believed that. I still believe that. But losing seven in a row is losing seven in a row. That's not what top-four teams do, and that's reality. That's the facts."
Ballard once again took accountability Thursday. He knows the stakes are higher than ever after another year without playoff football in Indianapolis.
"It starts with me, and until we win - until we win big, win a division, go far into the playoffs, there's going to be doubt," Ballard said. "That's real. I don't run away from that. I don't shy away from that."
Ballard later added: "Words are words, actions speak louder than words, and wins speak a lot louder than losses."