It was shaping up quite simply.
Daniel Jones was playing well enough as the Indianapolis Colts' quarterback to get a massive contract extension to be the franchise QB for years to come.
And then Jones tore his Achilles.
On a one-year contract, it was brutal timing for Jones and for the Colts, who wound up missing the playoffs entirely.
Jones' return to health isn't a given, but the Colts have a decision to make. Do they keep the guy who looked a lot like the answer they had been seeking?
NFL.com's Nick Shook thinks that's the move they should make.
"As far as the long haul is concerned, the Colts would be wise to sign Jones to a reasonable multi-year deal, allowing the two sides to resume their partnership at some point in 2026 and beyond," Shook writes.
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The Colts, at present, also have Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard under contract.
Richardson could wind up involved in offseason trade rumors, especially if the Colts sign Jones to a multi-year deal that essentially boxes Richardson out of ever becoming the guy in Indy.
Leonard looked solid to end the regular season in his Week 18 start, and so he'll likely be given a chance to be the backup going forward.
The Jones decision is the biggest one, though. The Colts should have more insight into his medical situation than other teams, which gives them an advantage in knowing what the right thing is to do here.
There's no guarantee that the "right" move actually winds up working, but Indy can't afford to mess up at the QB position too much longer.
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