Daniel Jones has been told he will remain with the Indianapolis Colts beyond Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, according to Tom Pelissero. The assurance comes after Indianapolis received calls about the quarterback, whose future has drawn attention as the 2-7 team makes changes to its roster during a difficult season.
The Colts have already completed two trades involving prominent players, sending offensive lineman Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers. Those moves have kept Indianapolis at the center of trade discussions, even as the reported decision on Jones takes the quarterback out of consideration for a deadline deal.
Running back Jonathan Taylor remains a major focus of attention following the Colts' 27-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Wide receiver Josh Downs and defensive lineman Grover Stewart are also potential names to monitor as the deadline approaches. Jones, however, appears set to finish the season in Indianapolis despite the interest from elsewhere.
The uncertainty surrounding the roster follows a season in which Indianapolis has already fired general manager Chris Ballard. Jones has also struggled, ranking among the league's worst quarterbacks this season. His supporting cast has faced problems of its own, particularly the extended absence of wide receiver Alec Pierce.
Pierce, who signed an extension during the past offseason, has missed nearly the entire season after aggravating an ankle injury that required offseason surgery. With Pierce largely unavailable, Keenan Allen leads Indianapolis with 40 receptions, while Downs has a team-high 354 receiving yards.
Minnesota appeared to be a possible destination for Jones because he spent time on the Vikings' practice squad two seasons ago. The Vikings have struggled offensively with Kyler Murray and are starting Carson Wentz on Monday while Murray deals with a hamstring injury. However, the teams that contacted Indianapolis about Jones have not been identified.
Jones, a team captain, signed a two-year extension worth $88 million this past offseason. Indianapolis could exit the agreement after this season, but doing so would leave $35.2 million in dead cap. The Colts also lack their first-round draft pick because of last season's Sauce Gardner trade. Keeping Jones as a placeholder next year remains a possibility, although the reported assurance concerns the approaching deadline rather than a commitment for next season.
