This is certainly not the week for the Indianapolis Colts to be managing a potential injury to quarterback Daniel Jones.
But the Colts quarterback caused some alarm when he was listed as a limited participant at practice Thursday due to a calf injury.
The Colts (8-2), of course, are coming off their bye and lead the AFC South by two games over the Jacksonville Jaguars and are 2.5 games ahead of the hard-charging Houston Texans, who have won three straight. Indy also trails the co-top-seeded New England Patriots (9-2) and Denver Broncos (9-2) by a half-game for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
The Colts will head to KC for a date with the three-time-reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
Daniel Jones Is Managing A Calf Injury
Any NBA fan knows a calf injury can be tricky, but Jones’ ailment could be especially problematic due to his involvement in Indy’s offense.
Of course, Jones has to make all the throws and use his legs to do so. But he is second on the Colts in rushing yards (143), attempts (40) and rushing touchdowns (5) and has two rushing scores in the Colts’ past five games.
The Colts have gone from a middle-of-the-pack offense with Anthony Richardson at the helm to the No. 1 offense in football with Jones. His effectiveness running Shane Steichen and Jim Bob Cooter’s offense has also allowed franchise running back Jonathan Taylor to become the overwhelming favorite for NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
So it’s understandably alarming to see Jones affected by any injury, especially since Indianapolis’ bye just passed.
But this is especially the case with the Colts set to go on the road to face the ultra-desperate Chiefs, who have the defense to make life miserable on Indy’s offense — much like the Pittsburgh Steelers did when they knocked off the Colts 27-20 on Nov. 2.
Plus, as Colts fans undoubtedly know, Richardson has just a 50.6 career completion percentage and an 11-13 touchdown-to-interception rate. Those stats wouldn’t exactly inspire confidence if he was thrust into action, especially in one of the most rabid atmospheres in sports in KC.
Barring A Setback, Daniel Jones Is Still Likely To Start Sunday
Before Colts fans start heading toward the proverbial ledge, Jones is still likely to be the starter in Kansas City on Sunday.
Getting in a limited practice is far superior to sitting out practice altogether, and members of Colts media assuaged fears of Richardson starting on the road in KC.
“I am not sensing any reason for alarm on Daniel Jones,” ESPN Colts reporter Stephen Holder shared on X (formerly Twitter). “There is obviously a lot of scrutiny of injury reports right now, so teams gotta be fully transparent.”
Ironically, the fact the Colts are playing on grass may help Jones’ case this week. Indy is just 2-1 on grass this season, with the same record playing outdoors this season.
But the natural playing surface seems far more forgiving than the artificial turf of Lucas Oil Stadium — especially on a lower-leg injury and with the weather expected to be unseasonably warm at Arrowhead on Sunday.
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