Daniel Jones has had a rollercoaster of a career thus far since being taken No.6 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. His tenure with the New York Giants has that fanbase split, with one side completely disgusted and glad he’s gone and the other feeling as if he was never given a real chance.
The Giants handed Jones a four year, $160 million deal in March of 2023 following a playoff win the year prior. That 2022 season, which happened to be the first year of the Brian Daboll/Joe Schoen regime, was seen as a positive for Jones. Jones threw for 3,205 yards with 15 touchdowns to five interceptions, adding another 708 yards and seven scores on the ground.
Last season, it all came crashing down. Jones looked shellshocked and team released him following their Week 10 loss to Carolina. He’d latch on with the Minnesota Vikings for the remainder of the season, sitting behind Sam Darnold and learning from Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings wanted Jones back in the offseason but the veteran opted for a chance to start in Indianapolis, signing a one year, $14 million deal with the Colts.
Many over the offseason questioned the Colts’ quarterback battle between Jones and Anthony Richardson. Jones won the starting job and through the first two weeks of the season, the early returns look good.
In Week 1 against the Dolphins, Jones lit up their lackluster secondary for 272 yards and a touchdown and reached the end zone two more times on the ground in their huge 33-8 win. On Sunday, Jones threw for 316 yards and one touchdown and another rushing score in a narrow 29-28 win over the Broncos.
Jones is currently second in the NFL in passing yards with 588, only behind the Giants’ new quarterback in Russell Wilson. The difference here is that Jones and the Colts are 2-0, while Wilson and the Giants are 2-0.
He’ll need to keep this up the rest of the season but ‘Indiana Jones’ may have something special brewing with the Colts.