TL;DR
- Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones will start against Houston Texans despite a fibula fracture.
- Jones suffered the injury in Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and is managing pain.
- Riley Leonard is the backup QB, with Anthony Richardson out for the season due to injury.
The Indianapolis Colts will face the Houston Texans during Week 13. This matchup holds significance for the AFC South standings and possible tiebreaker scenarios, and the Colts received encouraging updates regarding their starting QB.
Daniel Jones has been dealing with a lower-body injury for over a week. On Nov. 27, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the injury is actually a small fracture in Jones' fibula that he is trying to play through. Jones suffered the injury in the Week 12 loss to the Chiefs, and it has been reported that he is doing his best to manage it ahead of the game against the Texans.
Here are the latest updates on whether or not Jones is playing for the Colts against in Week 13.
MORE WEEK 13 NFL:
Will Daniel Jones be on the field this Sunday?
Shane Steichen, the head coach for The Colts, has announced that Jones is slated to be the starting quarterback for Indianapolis in their upcoming Sunday matchup against the Texans, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport..
Daniel Jones's recent performance has raised questions.
Rapoport stated that Jones sustained a fibula fracture before Week 12 and has been managing it for a week. The quarterback was playing despite the injury when the Colts were defeated by The Kansas City Chiefs 23-20 in overtime last Sunday.
From @NFLGameDay Morning: #Colts QB Daniel Jones is trying to play through a fibula fracture, though he looked good in practice today. Pic.twitter.com/tppdd15Sb8
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 27, 2025
The Colts have not confirmed the injury diagnosis, per ESPN's Stephen Holder.
MORE: How did Sauce Gardner play in his debut for the Colts?
What is a fibula fracture?
A fibula fracture refers to a break in the thinner of the two bones in the lower leg. Your lower leg consists of the fibula and the tibia. The fibula is situated on the outer side of the shin. These breaks often result from falls or repeated strain, such as landing awkwardly. It's frequent for a minor fibula fracture to also be associated with an ankle injury. While fracture severity varies, a small break might allow an athlete like Jones to continue playing with pain management until the season concludes.
Who is Daniel Jones' backup?
Riley Leonard is Jones'. Anthony Richardson, who was his backup at the season's start, is out for the rest of the year due to an orbital fracture.
Leonard started college at Duke before moving to Notre Dame for his senior season. Following his departure from The Fighting Irish, Leonard was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. As a rookie, Leonard has had minimal playing time, having only thrown two passes during a decisive victory against the Tennessee Titans.
Colts QB depth chart
| Position | Player Name |
| 1 | Daniel Jones |
| 2 | Riley Leonard |
| 3 | Brett Rypien -- practice squad |
| 4 | Anthony Richardson -- IR |
If Jones is deemed healthy enough to participate, he will. Contrary to claims that he needed to secure his starting position during the preseason against Richardson, Jones has guided the Colts to an 8-3 standing. Indianapolis holds a solid lead in the AFC South and requires a robust conclusion to secure a playoff spot.
Should Jones be unavailable, the Colts will face a choice between the rookie Leonard and the experienced Rypien, who is presently on the practice squad. Leonard is anticipated to be the immediate replacement, suggesting Indianapolis would likely adopt a more run-focused offensive strategy.