Colts GM Chris Ballard makes big statement about future of Daniel Jones

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones recently made it known he'd "love to be back" for another campaign with the club after he suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon on Dec. 7.

Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon also seemed open to extending the team's working relationship with Jones. While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Colts general manager Chris Ballard addressed Jones' uncertain future. 

Do Colts view Daniel Jones as long-term answer at quarterback?

"I’m looking at him near and long-term," Ballard said about Jones, per Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. "I think Daniel Jones has a really bright future here in Indianapolis." 

Jones won eight of his first 10 starts with Indianapolis before he suffered some sort of fibula injury during the club's Week 12 game against the Kansas City Chiefs. He then tore his Achilles in Week 14, while the Colts lost seven straight games after their Week 11 bye. 

Pro Football Reference stats show that Jones ended the season ranked eighth in the NFL among qualified players with a 63.7 adjusted QBR and ninth with a 100.2 passer rating. Over 13 games, he threw 19 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. Five of those picks occurred from Week 9 through Week 14. 

Jones is currently on track to reach free agency in March, but the Colts could retain his rights via the franchise tag or the transition tag. 

Chris Ballard also has an uncertain future

Erickson noted that Ballard is about to enter the final year of his contract. 

"Whether I had six years left on the deal or one year left on the deal, I’m going to treat it the same way," Ballard said about feeling "urgency" to win as soon as next season. Ballard also acknowledged that Colts ownership has to ultimately "do the best thing for the franchise." 

According to Erickson, Irsay-Gordon recently asked Ballard if the executive still has his "juju to do this." Ballard told reporters on Thursday he felt that was "a fair question." 

"...It guts me when things don’t go right," Ballard continued. "I told her unequivocally, I haven’t lost my shimmer, juju, my confidence." 

Irsay-Gordon decided to run it back with Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen, but both men seem to realize what will happen if the Colts aren't part of the playoffs at this time next year.