Colts coach Steichen says he will evaluate all positions after 42-7 loss
Indy's head coach left room for a quarterback change after Daniel Jones was pulled with 12 minutes left in a rout by Jacksonville.
By Marco Kapoor ·
Shane Steichen told reporters on Sunday that he will assess every position on the roster following the Indianapolis Colts' 42-7 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The coach explicitly included the quarterback position in his review, marking a shift from his previous stance of protecting Daniel Jones.
Jones was removed from the game with 11:53 remaining while the Colts trailed by 35 points. He had completed 19 of 28 passes for 144 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Backup Anthony Richardson Sr. finished the contest, completing two passes for eight yards.
The move follows a turbulent start to the season for the franchise. In the past two weeks, the Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard and traded defensive stars Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner. These personnel changes have left the status of every player uncertain, including that of running back Jonathan Taylor, who faces speculation ahead of next week's trade deadline.
Steichen had previously defended Jones aggressively. Last week, after a loss in Minnesota, the coach stated that Jones is the starting quarterback unless he announced otherwise. However, Sunday's performance, which featured Jones' worst career completion rate of 60.4%, prompted the new evaluation. Jones is currently posting the second-lowest QBR of his career at 39.5.
Jones re-signed in the spring to be the team's primary starter after recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered last season. He returned for Week 1 but has struggled to find his form. The quarterback is under contract for next season, though the deal includes guarantees that could allow the Colts to exit the agreement if they choose.
Taylor played through the loss despite trade rumors, carrying the ball only eight times. That is his lowest total since October 15, 2023. Steichen said the limited usage was due to the lopsided score and not a strategic signal. He noted that the team substituted backup running back Seth McGowan more frequently in the first half.
The Colts will next face an opponent with the trade deadline approaching. Steichen said the team is focusing on immediate improvements rather than long-term planning. Jones said he accepts his role in the loss, calling his performance below standard.
The team will prepare for its next game while management considers the future of its roster. The quarterback competition remains unresolved as Steichen completes his evaluation of the position group.
