Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is out for the rest of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars due to an Achilles injury sustained in the first quarter.
During a passing attempt late in the first quarter on December 7, Jones fell to the ground, immediately clutching his right ankle. The non-contact nature of the injury led to visible frustration as medical staff rushed to assist him. In a moment of exasperation, he removed his helmet and slammed it into the turf before being helped off the field and into the medical tent.
Shortly thereafter, he was escorted to the locker room, leaving rookie Riley Leonard from Notre Dame to take over as quarterback. Leonard was selected by the Colts in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jones had been managing a fractured fibula for several weeks, which had already hampered his mobility during recent losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans. Despite this injury, he had not missed any games until now. Leonard recounted a brief exchange with Jones after the injury occurred, stating, “He got the MRI and I’m, of course, very curious. I just wanted to know as soon as possible. I called some [team staffers], and they had really long explanations. And then [Jones] just texted me, ‘I’ll be good.’ That’s it. Three words. ‘I’ll be good.’ I said, ‘All right.’ He’s a tough guy.”
In addition to his injuries, Jones has been utilizing a specially designed 3D-printed pad on his leg, created by former Duke University classmates Clark Bulleit and Kevin Gehsmann. “Lucky to have smart friends who are really close friends,” Jones remarked. “It’s pretty low profile and fits to my leg pretty well. I didn’t really notice it Sunday.”
Bulleit and Gehsmann, who played alongside Jones at Duke in 2018, have since established a company called Protect3D that specializes in protective gear for athletes. “My buddy Kevin actually delivered it to me in Kansas City,” Jones added. “He flew [in] and came to the game; I got to see him afterward.”
The Colts currently hold an 8-4 record but are coming off two consecutive losses. The matchup against the Jaguars is crucial for both teams, as they are tied for first place in the AFC South.
Before the game, Jones emphasized the importance of execution: “We just have to execute our stuff. It’s a big game for us; I think we all know that... They’re a good team, good defense; they do a good job rushing the passer. They create turnovers and make a lot of plays in the back end, so we’ll have to be ready to go.”
Jones is attempting a comeback season after spending six years with the New York Giants and a brief stint with the Minnesota Vikings before revitalizing his career with the Colts.
