After a promising start to the 2025 NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts saw their shot at being a dark horse to be a title contender in the AFC shattered after star quarterback Daniel Jones went down with a torn Achilles tendon, ending his season prematurely.
Before suffering the season-ending injury in Week 14 against the division rival Jacksonville Jaguars, Jones had led the Colts to an impressive 8-4 record, as he was able to get the offense firing on all cylinders with the help of star running back Jonathan Taylor.
Unfortunately, without Jones on the field, the Colts limped to the finish line, as the team lost its final seven games of the regular season, resulting in Indianapolis missing the NFL playoffs entirely while also needing to find a quarterback to fill the void under center for next season, with Jones expected to miss the 2026 campaign.
Malik Willis is a Solid Option for the Colts
GettyMalik Willis #2 of the Green Bay Packers
Although options will be limited in NFL free agency during the offseason, the Colts do have one intriguing route they can go by bringing in Green Bay Packers backup quarterback Malik Willis, who turned a lot of heads while filling in for starter Jordan Love during the final stretch of the regular season.
Jay Robins of SB Nation’s Stampede Blue believes Willis could be a solid option for the Colts.
If the Colts want another QB but don’t want to spend their reduced draft capital on a QB, Malik Willis is their best bet to find a young, starting-caliber QB in Free Agency. If Willis wants to go to another team with a talented group of pass catchers, a strong Offensive Line, one of the better play callers in the NFL, and have a potential opportunity to start with an actively and oft-injured incumbent QB… the Colts represent one of the better fits for Willis. Steichen has shown the ability to develop QBs in the past and has helped get Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, and Daniel Jones to play at their highest levels in the NFL, while also being able to create a scheme that can maximize a dual-threat QB’s impact in the run game (Anthony Richardson and Jalen Hurts).
Willis played in only four games during the 2025 NFL season for the Packers, but that was enough to show his potential as a starting quarterback in this league, as he proved to be a force to be reckoned with as a dual-threat signal-caller.
In four games played, Willis threw for 422 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also racked up 123 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.
Colts Want to Keep Daniel Jones in Indianapolis
Daniel Jones #17 of the Indianapolis Colts
According to Colts general manager Chris Ballard, the team wants to re-sign Jones, who will become a free agent during the NFL offseason, via ESPN’s Stephen Holder.
“I’m looking at him both near and long [term],” Ballard said of Jones. “When you’re chasing the quarterback all the time, it makes it very hard. Your margin for error really shrinks down, and I feel very good about Daniel Jones and where he’s at [and] where he’s going.”
Even though Jones has a long rehab process ahead of him after surgery to repair his torn Achilles, the Colts’ brass saw enough from him during the 13 games he played during the 2025 campaign to convince them he could have a bright future in Indianapolis.
Jones threw for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions during his time under center for the Colts. He also showed his ability to be a threat with his legs, rushing for 165 yards and five touchdowns on 45 carries.
Colts Urged to Pursue Breakout Backup QB Amid Daniel Jones Injury Recovery