Daniel Jones signed a massive extension this offseason despite tearing his Achilles midway through the 2025 season, and we might see him return to the field earlier than expected. A first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, the Duke product began his career on the bench before quickly taking over for an ineffective Eli Manning. While he had some bright spots during his six years with the New York Giants, his overall body of work left a lot to be desired, and the team released him midway through the 2024 season.
Following a short stint on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad, Daniel Jones signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Indianapolis Colts in 2025. Brought in to compete with former first-round pick Anthony Richardson, Jones won the starting job and looked like the real deal for most of the season. Starting and appearing in 13 games, the veteran went 8-5 while completing 68.0% of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns, and eight interceptions before his unfortunate Achilles injury.
Daniel Jones spent the past few months rehabbing said injury and, while he’s not 100%, it sounds like he’ll return to the football field before long. During a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, the quarterback said he still has “some work to do” but should return to the field for practice.
Daniel Jones Injury Update: Colts QB Close To Returning To Practice
It will be interesting to see how Daniel Jones looks as he returns from his Achilles injury. This is a relatively rare injury for quarterbacks, and the only recent comparisons we have are Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers. Both quarterback tore their Achilles in the 2023 season, and neither player ever recaptured their previous form. However, Cousins and Rodgers were in their mid-to-late 30s, while Jones is entering his age-29 season. Given that, it stands to reason that Daniel Jones has a better shot of recapturing his previous form.
Looking beyond the Achilles injury itself, one must wonder if the 2025 version of Daniel Jones was a fluke. While the Duke product played like a starting-caliber quarterback, he wasn’t elite by any means and has had these types of stretches before. Only time will tell if he can maintain his consistency, but the uncertainty surrounding him is probably why the team only signed him to a two-year deal.
