On Tuesday for his pre-draft media availability, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen provided an encouraging injury update on recently re-signed starting quarterback Daniel Jones, who’s apparently progressing well in his ongoing rehabilitation:
Specifically, per
Steichen, the Colts’ new $100 million dollar man (*with earned incentives of course) is back to throwing and performing drop-backs just a few months removed from Achilles surgery.
After all, Jones suffered his torn Achilles in Week 14 of last season and underwent surgery shortly thereafter on December 9th of last year. He’s just a handful of months removed from that surgical procedure, but both Jones and the Colts seem highly optimistic that he could be ready for training camp at his current recovery pace—although no clear timetable has been placed yet on Indy’s QB1 and his eventual return.
Achilles tears are a significant injury, and often times, it can take at least a whole year to make a full recovery—and even then, a lot of professional athletes do not fully regain their prior explosiveness. Past Colts such as former running back Vick Ballard and defensive end Samson Ebukam didn’t make a full recovery in Indianapolis, but Jones is aided by the fact that he plays quarterback—although he does rely a great deal upon his mobility.
At any rate, Jones appears to be ahead of schedule right now regarding his Achilles recovery. The fact that the Colts gave him a 2-year deal too, indicates that 2026 could be more of a ‘recovery year’ too anyways, with the hope that he fully regains his prior physical form by the beginning of the 2027 campaign.
Still, it would be disingenuous to suggest that Indianapolis doesn’t expect a lot of good things from Jones next season at starting quarterback and going forward.
