The Colts have lost quarterback Daniel Jones for the day due to an Achilles injury. The backup, rookie Riley Leonard, has taken over.
So who’s behind Leonard?
As explained by CBS during the Colts-Jaguars broadcast, the next man up would be rookie tight end Tyler Warren.
Warren was a high-school quarterback. He played the position from time to time at Penn State, and he has taken some snaps at the position in his rookie year.
The Colts have Brett Rypien on the practice squad. Only players on the active, 53-man roster can serve as the emergency third quarterback.
Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall pick in the 2023 draft, is on injured reserve. Earlier this week, coach Shane Steichen said Richardson still hasn’t been cleared after suffering an orbital fracture during a freak accident in the locker room prior to the October 12 game against the Cardinals.
The Colts will need to add a quarterback, if Jones’s Achilles injury impacts him beyond today.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones suffered what looked like a serious lower leg injury in the first quarter of today’s game in Jacksonville.
Jones, who was playing through a fracture in his left leg, dropped back to pass and fell down without anyone touching him. On the ground he grabbed his right ankle near the Achilles tendon and shook his head as if he believed he had just suffered a bad injury.
After a break, Jones was able to walk to the locker room under his own power, rather than getting carted off the field. The Colts announced that he is out for the game with an Achilles injury.
It’s been a comeback season for Jones, who signed a one-year contract with the Colts in the offseason and has been playing some of his best football this season. He looked poised to sign a lucrative contract in 2026, but this injury may change that.
Rookie sixth-round draft pick Riley Leonard is now the only quarterback available to the Colts, so he’ll take the helm for the rest of the game.
Jaguars linebacker Devin Lloyd is continuing to have a big impact in Jacksonville this season.
Lloyd intercepted Colts quarterback Daniel Jones’ first pass of the game today, giving Lloyd his fifth interception of the season.
From there, the Jaguars gained 21 yards in four plays, with the last play being a three-year touchdown run by Travis Etienne.
The Jaguars lead 7-0 in a game that will determine first place in the AFC South.
The Jaguars will be without their leader in receptions against the Colts in Sunday’s battle for the top of the AFC South.
Wide receiver Parker Washington is inactive for the game. Washington, who leads the team with 36 catches this season, was listed as questionable to play with a hip injury.
There’s better news for Jacksonville on the other side of the ball. Defensive linemen Arik Armstead (hand) and Travon Walker (back) are both active after joining Washington with questionable tags.
Colts at Jaguars
Colts: CB Sauce Gardner, RB DJ Giddens, DE Tyquan Lewis, S Reuben Lowery, TE Will Mallory, S George Odum, T Luke Tenuta
Jaguars: WR Parker Washington, S Andrew Wingard, LB Yasir Abdullah, OL Walker Little, TE Johnny Mundt, DL Emmanuel Ogbah, DL Austin Johnson.
Dolphins at Jets
Dolphins: QB Quinn Evers, WR Tahj Washington, T Kendall Lamm, DT Matthew Butler, LB Andre Carter, CB A.J. Green
Jets: QB Justin Fields, WR Tyler Johnson, S Tony Adams, CB Ja’Sir Taylor, EDGE Braiden McGregor, DT Mazi Smith, TE Jelani Woods
Steelers at Ravens
Steelers: WR Roman Wilson, DT Derrick Harmon, S Kyle Dugger, T Calvin Anderson, DT Brodric Martin, WR Ke’Shawn Williams, QB Will Howard
Ravens: WR Devontez Walker, DT Aeneas Peebles, G Ben Cleveland, T Joseph Noteboom, QB Cooper Rush
Saints at Buccaneers
Saints: S Justin Reid, CB Rejzohn Wright, RB Alvin Kamara, T Taliese Fuaga, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DT John Ridgeway, DT Khristian Boyd
Buccaneers: QB Connor Bazelak, G Elijah Klein, S Kaevon Merriweather, CB Benjamin Morrison, DL Elijah Simmons, T Tristan Wirfs
Titans at Browns
Titans: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis, S Jerrick Reed, OL Drew Moss, C Lloyd Cushenberry, DT Shy Tuttle
Browns: G Wyatt Teller, DT Adin Huntington, T Jack Conklin, TE Brenden Bates, RB Raheim Sanders, WR Jamari Thrash
Commanders at Vikings
Commanders: QB Josh Johnson, LB Ale Kaho, T Trent Scott, DE Jalyn Holmes, T George Fant, DE Drake Jackson
Vikings: QB John Wolford, S Theo Jackson, DL Levi Drake Rodriguez, G Joe Huber, T Walter Rouse, TE Ben Yurosek, DL Elijah Williams
Seahawks at Falcons
Seahawks: QB Jalen Milroe, CB Shaquill Griffin, RB Cam Akers, LB Jared Ivey, LB Connor O’Toole, OL Mason Richman
Falcons: WR Drake London, CB Cobee Bryant, RB Nathan Carter, DL Brandon Dorlus, OL Michael Jerrell, WR Casey Washington
Bengals at Bills
Bengals: QB Jake Browning, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DE Trey Hendrickson, DT Jordan Jefferson
Bills: T Spencer Brown, WR Josh Palmer, LB Terrel Bernard, DE Joey Bosa, DB Darnell Savage, DT Phidarian Mathis, OL Chase Lundt
The Colts ripped through the first eight games of the season, winning seven times. A 1-3 slide since then has raised a troubling question.
Could they miss the playoffs?
Indeed they could. Now 8-4 and tied with the Jaguars atop the AFC South, the Colts could easily lose both the division title and one of the three-wild card spots.
And the stretch run is a gauntlet. After Sunday’s visit to Jacksonville, where Indy hasn’t won since 2014, the Colts finish with the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars, and Texans.
Via NBC Sports research, the Colts could be the sixth team since the AFL-NFL merger to start 7-1 or better and miss the playoffs. The others were the 2012 Bears, Washington in 1996, the 1988 Saints, the 1987 Chargers, and the 1975 Dolphins.
The Colts would be the first team to start 7-1 or better and fall out of playoff contention with seven spots available in each conference.
One issue has been the performance of quarterback Daniel Jones away from Indianapolis. At home, he’s 5-1 with 15 total touchdowns and one turnover. One the road, the Colts are 3-3 — and Jones has nine total touchdowns and nine turnovers.
Then there’s the fracture in Jones’s leg. It made him one-dimensional against the Texans in Indianapolis last week, in a game that the Colts nevertheless could have won.
On Sunday, weather will be an issue. But that will be true for both teams. Whatever the elements, the Colts need to find a way to win in a place where they haven’t in 11 years.
If they don’t, a season of apparent resurgence could end like every other season since 2021 — without a playoff appearance.
