Daniel Jones is back to throwing the ball in real situations. That is a sentence Colts fans were not sure they would hear by June.
JJ Stankevitz of Colts.com reported Monday that Jones participated in seven-on-seven drills during the Colts’ OTA practice. It is the first time he has done full speed work since tearing his right Achilles in December.
“It’s just making those strides each and every week and to get him out there at seven-on-seven was huge,” head coach Shane Steichen said.
The Recovery Is Tracking Ahead of Schedule
Torn Achilles injuries used to be career enders. Now the medical science has advanced enough that quarterbacks can come back in nine to twelve months. Jones tore his in December. He is participating in seven-on-seven drills in June. That math works out.
The Colts are still being cautious. Jones is not expected to take 11-on-11 reps until training camp at the earliest. That makes sense. There is no reason to put him in pass rush situations until the team is ready to start hitting in pads.
Why The Colts Bet Big on Jones
Jones gave Indianapolis exactly what they paid for in 2025 before the injury. He led the Colts to 8-5 through 13 games, throwing for 3,101 yards and 19 touchdowns against eight picks. The team looked playoff bound. Then the Achilles snapped.
The Colts still gave him a two-year, $88 million extension in March. That is a vote of confidence even with the injury risk attached.
For a quarterback who got chased out of New York two years ago, the second act has been a redemption story. Jones is playing the best football of his career when he is on the field.
The Big Question Is Throwing Power
Achilles injuries to quarterbacks rarely affect throwing mechanics directly. Aaron Rodgers came back from his and threw the ball as well as he ever has. The deeper risk is mobility and the ability to escape the pocket.
Jones is not Lamar Jackson. He never relied heavily on mobility to make plays. He can move enough to keep defenses honest, but his game is built on quick reads and accurate throws. That part of his arsenal should not be affected.
What he loses, at least temporarily, is the ability to scramble for first downs on third and long. That was a meaningful part of his game in Indianapolis. Recovering that comes later in the timeline.
The AFC South Is Wide Open
The Texans took a step back last season. The Jaguars are still figuring out who they are. The Titans are rebuilding. The division is there for the taking if the Colts get Jones back to where he was before the injury.
Anthony Richardson is the backup plan, but the team has clearly committed to Jones as the starter. The big test comes when training camp opens and Jones has to take live reps with pass rushers actually trying to hit him.
For now, every seven-on-seven rep is a step closer to a normal preseason. That alone is good news for Indy.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
