Daniel Jones suffered an Achilles injury in the week 14 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Indianapolis Colts quarterback will miss the remainder of the season. With that said, many fans and pundits believe the season is over for the Colts. But don’t give up on the team just yet.
The Colts own an 8-5 record and are in third place in the AFC South. They are also eighth in the AFC. Yet, they still have a 32 percent chance of making the playoffs. Sure, that’s not a great chance by any means but nothing’s impossible.
Don’t Give Up on the Colts Just Yet
Plenty of Talent
Yes, Daniel Jones is unavailable. Yet, Indianapolis still has a ton of quality players on the roster. Thankfully for the Colts, superstar Jonathan Taylor is still around. Taylor is perhaps the best running back in the NFL right now. The two-time Pro Bowler is leading the league in rushing yards (1,356) and touchdowns (16).
Earlier this season, Taylor was one of the top MVP candidates. However, he has cooled down over the last few weeks. Taylor will have to be at his best, though, if the Colts want to make the playoffs this year.
The Colts also have a solid wide receiver corps led by Michael Pittman Jr., Alec, Pierce, and Josh Downs. Plus, tight end Tyler Warren is having a great rookie year. And with contributors like Quenton Nelson, Camryn Bynum, and Zaire Franklin, the Colts possess plenty of talent.
Good Quarterback Play Is Needed
Riley Leonard took over for Daniel Jones in the game against Jacksonville. The rookie out of Notre Dame had a decent game, completing 18 of his 29 passes for 145 yards. While he didn’t throw a touchdown pass, he did record the first rushing touchdown of his career.
Unfortunately, Leonard is currently dealing with a knee injury. It’s unclear if he’ll play in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks. He’s expected to be the starter if he’s healthy.
The Colts recently signed Philip Rivers to their practice squad. It was a shocking move, seeing that he’s 44 years old and hasn’t played since 2020. It makes sense, though. The Colts were in desperate need of a quarterback, especially since no one knows if Anthony Richardson will return this year. Also, Rivers is familiar with the Colts’ offense and has a close relationship with head coach Shane Steichen.
Whether it’s Leonard, Rivers, or Richardson under center, that quarterback must play well, of course, to give Indy the best chance to win. As everyone knows, it’s difficult to have success if your quarterback struggles.
The Colts have a tough remaining schedule. They play the Seahawks and Houston Texans on the road as well as the San Francisco 49ers and Jaguars at home. All four of those teams have winning records.
While it’s unlikely that the Colts will sneak into the playoffs, it’s too early to write them off.
Main Image: Gary A. Vasquez – Imagn Images
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