Daniel Jones was going to have his best passing season in almost every passing metric in the 2025 NFL season with the Indianapolis Colts. and was leading the Colts to a 7-1 record before the team’s season took a 180-degree turn.
The quarterback suffered two leg injuries, with the first (a fractured leg) hindering his performance and his second (an Achilles tear) forcing him to be sidelined late in the season.
Colts GM Chris Ballard revealed that Jones is right on schedule with his recovery process ahead of the 2026 season. Despite being on track to be ready for Week 1, a player recovering from two leg injuries is a concern for almost everybody in the league, especially a quarterback.
One NFL writer believes the Colts should consider trading for a QB with promising upside in his rookie season, in case Jones does not return to his old form before his injuries.
Colts Named Trade Destination for Pro Bowl QB
GettyIndy could get some depth at the quarterback position
If Daniel Jones is not healthy by the time of the new season, Riley Leonard will be the starting quarterback. But due to the team’s decision to bring Philip Rivers out of retirement instead of going with Leonard, Indianapolis is not out of the realm of adding another QB.
To help find a backup to Jones, Wynston Wilcox of FanSided named the Colts as a possible trade destination for Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
“The Indianapolis Colts wouldn’t be foolish to think about trading for Sanders if he becomes available, because he is the perfect insurance. The Colts aren’t quite sure how Daniel Jones is going to recover from his Achilles injury,” Wilcox wrote. “Having someone like Sanders there if things don’t go well, or he’s not ready for the start of the season, isn’t a bad idea.”
“On the heels of a major injury, he could end up being a hindrance. If Sanders needs to step in and plays well, he could land another starting job or return back to Indianapolis. If he doesn’t play well, you didn’t really lose much because he was always the backup option — and Jones isn’t exactly a permanent solution either.”
As of now, it appears that Deshaun Watson will be the starting quarterback for the Browns in Week 1 of the 2026 season, putting Sanders on the bench again.
With the QB carousel the Browns have, it would be better for him to get a change of scenery, either with Indy or elsewhere.
Shedeur Sanders was a Pro Bowl in his rookie season, throwing for 1,700 yards and 7 touchdowns, with 169 rushing yards and a TD. With an offensive-minded head coach, he could bode well with the Colts.
Shedeur Sanders in the Colts QB Room
GettyIndianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard
If Shedeur Sanders were to end up with the Indianapolis Colts, he would likely be the third option on the depth chart behind Riley Leonard — the Colts also have Anthony Richardson, but he has requested a trade.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that what Leonard did in the limited playing time he had last season was “impressive” and noted that he wanted to see improvement from the quarterback heading into the new season.
This leaves Sanders as the third option on the depth chart and unlikely to receive any playing time. But if he were to beat out Leonard in a training camp battle, things could go more his way and be the first backup.
If Daniel Jones were not to play in his previous form or sustain another injury, Shedeur Sanders will have another go at becoming a starting QB in the NFL.
Colts Tabbed as Trade Destination for Pro Bowl AFC North Quarterback