In recent years, there’s been a trend in the NFL where castaway quarterbacks finally unlock their potential later in their careers. This season, Daniel Jones emerged as the latest example, surprising the league by leading the Indianapolis Colts to one of the strongest starts before an Achilles injury abruptly halted his momentum.
While the Colts ultimately missed the playoffs, Jones is progressing in his recovery and is set to become a free agent in 2026, leaving his future very much up in the air. The question now is whether Indianapolis views his pre-injury surge as enough to justify a reunion.
Will Daniel Jones Return To the Indianapolis Colts in 2026?
Jones was selected sixth overall by the New York Giants in the 2019 NFL Draft but struggled to establish himself over six seasons with the franchise before being released during the 2024 campaign.
He quickly found a second opportunity in Indianapolis, signing a one-year, $14 million deal with the Colts and entering training camp in a direct competition with Anthony Richardson for the starting quarterback role. Jones subsequently won the starting spot and went on to have the best season of his career before the injury ended his run.
In his absence, the Colts turned to Philip Rivers to stabilize the offense, but production dipped noticeably as defenses shifted their focus toward stopping Jonathan Taylor. While returning from an Achilles injury is no small task, PFSN analyst Ryan Guthrie believes a reunion with Indianapolis remains the most logical outcome for the 28-year-old quarterback.
“Daniel Jones quietly experienced a revival in Indianapolis, helping push the Colts to the brink of the playoffs before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury,” Guthrie wrote. “While that injury is tough to come back from, quarterbacks always have a market, and Jones should be no exception.
“The best landing spot is staying put. The Colts’ offense noticeably stalled after Jones went down, as teams keyed in on Jonathan Taylor, who still ranked third in the PFSN NFL RB Impact Metrics (84.4). Jones’ mobility and willingness to push the ball unlocked Taylor and the offense. Indy doesn’t have much behind him, making continuity the smartest play.”
In 13 games of action, Jones completed 68% of his passes for 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions, finishing the season ranked eighth in QBR and fifth overall in PSFN’s Quarterback Impact with a B grade. Indianapolis fielded one of its most explosive offenses in recent memory during his time under center, production that could ultimately outweigh concerns surrounding his injury.
If Jones proves healthy, the Colts may have little incentive to move on from a quarterback who finally helped unlock their offensive ceiling, making a return in 2026 not just possible, but increasingly likely.
