Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said he has no plans to bench quarterback Daniel Jones despite the team's 2-5 start and a 16-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.
Jones completed 13 of 22 passes for 108 yards, threw a game-sealing interception to Vikings safety Harrison Smith with 1:39 remaining, and was sacked four times. The Vikings blitzed on 85.2% of his dropbacks, the highest rate in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016).
Through Week 7, Jones ranks among the NFL's least efficient passers: 22nd in passing yards per game (199.7), 27th in completion percentage (59.6%), tied for 29th in interceptions (7), 30th in EPA per dropback (-0.20), tied for 31st in passing touchdowns per game (0.6), and 31st in passer rating (69.4).
Steichen's Support
"I have not thought about a quarterback change," Steichen said after the game. "I've got a ton of faith in Daniel. The game plan today was to go in and run the football. Obviously, at the end, he had the interception. That happens in football."
Jones acknowledged the coach's confidence. "It's my job to play well, to put the team in position to win games," Jones said. "I gotta do a better job of that. I certainly understand that. We all gotta go back to work. I gotta go back to work, see where I can be better."
Backup Options Limited
The Colts' alternatives are unproven. Anthony Richardson, the former No. 4 overall pick, remains the backup in his fourth season but has completed only 50.6% of his passes with 13 interceptions and 11 touchdowns in 15 career starts. The team declined his fifth-year option. Rookie Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick, has appeared in five games with one start, going 39-for-67 for 415 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Leonard has not displaced Richardson as the primary backup.
Contract and Future Implications
Jones signed a two-year extension in March worth an average of $44 million per year with $60 million guaranteed. He carries a $46.8 million salary cap hit in 2027, likely keeping him as the starter next season. The deal was one of the final moves by former general manager Chris Ballard, who was fired this month.
If Jones does not rebound, the Colts could target a quarterback in the 2027 draft, though they lack a first-round pick due to the trade for cornerback Sauce Gardner.
