Daniel Jones Set to Avoid PUP List as Colts Gain Confidence in QB's Recovery

The Colts were criticized by some rival front offices for using a transition tag on quarterback Daniel Jones coming off another injury, instead of just extending him and using the tag on another player, with many assuming he would not be back from season-ending surgery to play a full season.

The Colts offense, and entire season, crumbled after Jones went down, but he continues to trend in a positive direction and left a strong impression during the team’s spring practices about his availability for the early stages of training camp. 

Jones did not take part in full team drills this spring, but, according to a league source, looks to be in a position to steer clear of having to open camp on the Physically Unable To Participate list.

The Colts will certainly be very careful with Jones, coming off an Achilles tear, and we’ve seen that injury significantly hamper older quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers in their first season after surgery. 

Jones is younger and far more mobile than either, and it will be interesting to see if they lean away from option plays and designed runs for him early in the season.

Pick Up Where He Left Off?

Indianapolis was in position to push for the top seed in the AFC before he was injured, but lacked depth and quality at the position behind him and brought Philip Rivers out of extended retirement to finish out what became a lost season.

If Jones is a functional winning quarterback, he cut way down on the forced throws and poor decisions that led to his demise with the Giants; the Colts should be competitive in the AFC South. 

While Anthony Richardson has been back in the fold as a backup after previously requesting a trade, the industry did not view him as a starter, and no one pursued him with any vigour.

The Colts feel good about Jones’s recovery by not adding anyone of note to their mix. 

And if they're going to spoil the debut of new Ravens rookie head coach Jesse Minter in the season-opener, they’re quite likely going to need a spry and active Jones to do it.