INDIANAPOLIS - Daniel Jones had an impressive training camp, the performance of the Indianapolis Colts quarterback never suggesting he was recently recovered from a torn right Achilles tendon.
Until Sunday, though, Jones had not played in live action since sustaining the injury nine months ago. He successfully made his return to game action against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, a remarkable 280 days after his injury.
But that's about where the memorable moments ended for Jones and the Colts in a 41-23 loss to Baltimore.
"Just not good enough," Jones said. "Obviously, didn't play well enough on offense. Didn't move the ball well. Didn't score. Didn't take care of it. A lot of things we set out to do every game, we didn't accomplish."
Hoping to recapture the magic the Colts' offense produced when Jones was healthy in 2025, Indianapolis re-signed the former New York Giant as a free agent in the spring to a two-year, $88 million deal. Coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard expressed confidence the Colts could replicate the results of early last season, but Sunday cast doubt on those predictions.
Jones completed 19 of 31 passes for 166 yards, his lowest passing total in any full game he's played with the Colts. Jones' 5.4 yards per pass attempt were his worst as a Colt.
The stakes are high for Jones and the Colts. His success, or lack thereof this season, will likely inform what becomes of him in the near future. The Colts are hopeful he can be a long-term answer at quarterback, but that probably hinges on how he performs and whether he can finally stay healthy.
Steichen, himself on the hot seat along with Ballard, warned against overreaction after a game in which his defense was torched for 506 yards, the offensive line succumbed to blitzes and the receivers failed to help Jones in any meaningful way.
"There's so much football in front of us," Steichen said. "It's one game like this. Could happen [in] Week 6. It just happened to happen Week 1. We don't want it to happen again. But we're going to look at the tape, we're going to be honest with each other and hold each other accountable."
Jones seemingly held up well despite absorbing Baltimore's nine quarterback hits. He also scrambled on a couple of occasions. Whether Jones' physical condition impacted his play was difficult to evaluate. But, notably, he was 1 of 6 for 0 yards and was sacked twice on plays where he was under pressure, according to ESPN Research.
Performance aside, merely returning to the field was something of a victory for Jones.
"It was good to see him out there," Steichen said.
Also making a return was receiver Alec Pierce, out since March following ankle surgery. Pierce's playing time was limited by coaches -- the goal was about 40 snaps -- but still managed to lead the Colts in receiving with four catches for 61 yards. Pierce said he expects his role to expand in the coming weeks after being listed as a limited participant in practice last week.
"You can't go from not practicing at all to straight into it," Pierce said. "We have a whole buildup period for training camp for the healthy players coming back. And they know how I've been feeling and how I've been progressing and we were really, really pushing to play Week 1, even if it wasn't going to be perfect."
Pierce said he also sustained a bruise on his left wrist during the game, leaving briefly to undergo X-rays. Scans were negative and Pierce returned to the game, albeit with soreness. He wore a wrap on his wrist after the game.
"It was a little stiff," Pierce said.
