The Indianapolis Colts lost their third straight game in a 36-19 Week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They also lost their starting quarterback to a significant injury.
Jones remained down after the play and was visibly upset while being tended to by the Colts medical staff on the field. The 28-year-old was able to slowly hobble off the field under his own power but eventually headed to the locker room before being ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
And it seems like the Colts quarterback will be sidelined much longer than that given the serious nature of his injury.
How long is Jones out? Here’s what to know about the severity of his Achilles injury and when he may return to the field.
How long is Daniel Jones out?
Jones will miss the remainder of the 2025 NFL season after suffering a torn Achilles, according to multiple reports. The 28-year-old quarterback is set to have surgery to repair the injury.
Colts coach Shane Steichen didn’t have additional specifics about Jones’ injury during a postgame news conference. However, he acknowledged ‘it’s not looking good’ and that the ailment ‘could be season-ending.’
The bigger question for Jones will be about his availability for the start of the 2026 NFL season.
That will make Jones’ rehab one to watch as he heads towards free agency following a breakout season during which he posted an 8-5 record as a starter and completed 68% of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Who is the Colts backup quarterback?
Steichen came out of the loss impressed with what Leonard had achieved after playing just six career NFL snaps entering the Week 14 game.
‘I thought Riley stepped in and did some good things in a tough situation,’ Steichen told reporters. ‘He battled like crazy.’
Leonard was a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after helping lead Notre Dame to an appearance in the national championship game. The 6-4, 213-pound quarterback played one season for Notre Dame after transferring from Duke, completing 66.7% of his passes for 2,861 yards, 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions while adding 906 yards and 17 scores on the ground.
Leonard began the season as the Colts’ third-string quarterback but was elevated into the No. 2 spot after Anthony Richardson suffered a fractured orbital bone during pregame warmups against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 6.
It isn’t clear whether Richardson will return from that injury during the 2025 NFL season, so Leonard could be entrusted with the starting job over the season’s final month.
Colts QB depth chart
Below is a full look at the Colts quarterback depth chart as it currently stands.
Daniel Jones (injured)
Anthony Richardson (injured)
Riley Leonard
Brett Rypien (practice squad)
Leonard and Rypien are currently the only healthy quarterbacks in the Colts organization. Rypien joined the team in October after spending time with the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals earlier in the season. The 29-year-old has a 2-2 career record as a starter but has completed just 58.3% of his career passes for 950 yards, four touchdowns and nine interceptions.
The Colts will likely add another quarterback to their roster to provide depth behind Leonard and Rypien.