Shane Steichen explains keeping Daniel Jones as Colts' starting QB despite struggles, losses

Shortly after the Indianapolis Colts suffered a 16-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings that dropped the Colts to 2-5 on Sunday, Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Daniel Jones would remain the club's starting quarterback for its Week 8 game at the 4-2 Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 1. 

While speaking with reporters on Monday, Steichen explained why he's sticking with Jones for at least one more week. 

Shane Steichen: Daniel Jones has proved he can lead the Colts to wins

"He's proven that he can do it," Steichen said about Jones, per Stephen Holder of ESPN. "So that's where the confidence comes from. And we need to get him back playing to that level that he was last year. It's taking a little bit longer." 

Presumably, Steichen was referencing how Jones went 8-2 as Indianapolis' starter last season before he began dealing with a reported fibula injury in Week 12. He later went down with a torn Achilles on Dec. 7, 2025, and he has since played so poorly this season that Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon didn't wait until even the end of October to fire general manager Chris Ballard. 

Specifically, Jones went 13-of-22 passing for 108 yards with no touchdowns and a game-sealing interception against the Vikings. He also rushed for just 13 yards on four attempts. 

As shared by ESPN stats and Pro Football Reference, Jones began Monday ranked near the bottom of the NFL among qualified players in multiple passing categories for the ongoing season. According to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, Jones completed just 55 percent of his pass attempts for 787 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions over the Colts' past four games. He also lost one fumble and took a whopping 13 sacks across those contests. 

Daniel Jones knows Colts, Shane Steichen need better from him

Per Mike Chappell of Fox 59/CBS4 Sports, Steichen added that Jones "knows he’s got to play better." Despite saying that, Steichen clearly believes that Jones gives the Colts a better chance to at least hang with the Jaguars than would Anthony Richardson Sr. or fellow backup Riley Leonard. 

That said, it's possible that Steichen won't finish the season as the Colts' head coach if he continues to stick with a losing quarterback in November. Shortly after Steichen spoke, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Colts as 7.5-point road underdogs against the Jaguars.