Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a non-contact right Achilles injury in Sundayâs Week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars and was quickly ruled out, putting his status for the Week 15 trip to face the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field very much in doubt.
With Jones sidelined and rookie Riley Leonard forced into action, the Seahawks suddenly look set to face a very different Colts offense in a game that has major playoff implications for both teams.
Daniel Jones Suffers Achilles Injury Ahead of Seahawks Game
Jones went down late in the first quarter against Jacksonville on a non-contact play, immediately grabbing at his right lower leg before slamming his helmet in frustration. He limped to the sideline, went to the locker room and was ruled out with an Achilles injury shortly afterward.
The injury comes on top of the fractured fibula in his left leg that Jones had been playing through in recent weeks. Despite the injury, he had helped Indianapolis to an 8-4 record and more than 3,000 passing yards with 19 touchdown passes in his first season with the Colts.
With Jones out, sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard was pressed into duty against the Jaguars. Leonard had taken only a handful of snaps previously and entered the day with just two pass attempts and one rushing yard in his NFL career.
The Colts are already thin at quarterback with former first-round pick Anthony Richardson Sr. on injured reserve because of a facial fracture, leaving Leonard and practice squad veteran Brett Rypien as the immediate options behind Jones.
While the team will need further testing to determine whether Jones suffered a full Achilles tear, injuries of this type are typically long-term and often season-ending, making it unlikely he will be healthy in time for the Week 15 showdown in Seattle.
What Daniel Jonesâ Injury Means for the Seahawks
From a Seahawks perspective, this is a massive shift in the matchup. Seattle is 9-3 and tied atop the NFC West thanks largely to a defense that ranks among the NFLâs best in scoring and just posted a 26-0 shutout of the Minnesota Vikings, forcing five turnovers in Week 13. At the time of Jonesâ injury, the Seahawks led the Atlanta Falcons 13-6.Â
Instead of facing an established starter who had been the centerpiece of Indianapolisâ surprising start, the Seahawks now likely get a rookie quarterback making his first road start in one of the loudest stadiums in football. That plays directly into what new head coach Mike Macdonald and defensive coordinator Aden Durde want to do: disguise coverages, bring pressure from multiple levels and force young passers into mistakes.
Linebacker Ernest Jones IV is coming off an NFC Defensive Player of the Week performance that included two interceptions and a pick-six, while Seattle is also getting reinforcements with safety Julian Love and defensive tackle Jarran Reed coming off injured reserve.
If Leonard starts, expect the Colts to lean more heavily on Jonathan Taylor and the run game, plus quick throws to protect the rookie from Seattleâs pass rush. That could allow the Seahawks to load the box, trust their deep secondary, and dare Leonard to beat tight coverage outside.
Thereâs also a complementary-football angle: a turnover-prone backup in a noisy environment could set up short fields for Sam Darnold and an offense that has leaned on Jaxon Smith-Njigba and a two-headed backfield of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.
Seahawks-Colts Week 15: Stats, Schedule & Stakes
Both teams entered Week 14 firmly in the playoff race. The Seahawks are 9-3 and battling the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers for the NFC West crown, while the Colts were 8-4 and fighting the Jacksonville Jaguars for first in the AFC South.
Week 15 details:
- Matchup: Indianapolis Colts at Seattle Seahawks
- Date: Sunday, December 14, 2025
- Kickoff: 4:25 p.m. ET
- Location: Lumen Field, Seattle
- Records entering Week 14: Seahawks 9-3, Colts 8-4
The Colts were already dealing with the likely absence of star cornerback Sauce Gardner because of a calf injury that has him considered week-to-week.
If Gardner and Jones both miss the game, Indianapolis could enter Lumen Field down its No. 1 quarterback and No. 1 corner in a potential playoff seeding swing. For the Seahawks, thatâs an undeniable opportunity â but also a trap if they overlook a well-coached Colts team still fighting for the AFC South.
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