Before the trade deadline, theIndianapolis Colts traded away wide receivers Josh Downs and Keenan Allen. A few weeks before that, DeForest Buckner and Quenton Nelson were traded away as well.
The Colts are now eyeing a rebuild and trying accumulate draft capital for the future. But for Daniel Jones, who still has eight games left in the season, those aren't moves he wanted to see made.
"Honestly, you're not happy to see it," Jones said, via The Athletic's James Boyd. "You're a player and you're going out htere competing, doing everything you can to win games. You’re not happy to see a lot of those decisions, but like I said, that’s outside of our control. And our job is to play. Be prepared and play well. Like I said, we got a lot of trust in the
guys coming into those spots and we'll be ready to go."
Daniel Jones, asked about the #Colts making trades for the future while he’s trying to win in the present:
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) November 11, 2026
“You’re not happy to see a lot of those decisions, but like I said, that’s outside of our control. And our job is to play. Be prepared and play well. …” pic.twitter.com/0BH46dDY8x
The Colts are 2-7, haven't made the playoffs in five years, have a GM opening, and could potentially have a head coach opening in the offseason as well. So trading players on expiring contracts to acquire draft capital was the right play.
However, for the players who are out there competing, winning hasn't gotten any easier during this stretch. While Jones has had his struggles this season, it's not as if the play around him, particularly at the wide receiver position, has helped things.
Now, without his top two targets, moving the ball will be an even greater challenge than what it already was.
That said, the Colts aren't in this position if they had won more games. To varying degrees, everyone had a hand in this outcome.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: 'You're not happy:' Daniel Jones reacts to Colts trade deadline moves
