Daniel Jones Hit Key Rehab Milestone Before Agreement With Colts

The Colts were already headed for an expensive negotiation with Daniel Jones before his season-ending Achilles injury. That both complicated contract talks and delayed a final decision until some clarity emerged on the veteran quarterback’s recovery.

Indianapolis placed the transition tag on Jones at the beginning of March – almost three months after his December injury. That milestone is considered a crucial one in the rehab process, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder, as the incision is healed and the success of the surgery can be better evaluated.

Dr. Martin O’Malley, who performed Jones’ surgery, examined him at the three-month mark, as did the Colts’ doctors. With their approval, the team finalized the two-year, $88MM deal that had been in the works for weeks as both sides awaited medical updates.

The Colts keeping Jones seemed like a foregone conclusion and the best outcome for both sides. Indianapolis was able to constantly monitor Jones’ condition from the time he was injured, but other teams would have less information and potentially less confidence in his recovery.

By staying put, the 28-year-old can continue working with the same medical and coaching staff as he rehabs and prepares for next season. He will not have to deal with the mental and physical rigors of finding a new home in free agency, moving to another state, and getting settled in a different offense.

That last part is especially crucial. The Colts are hopeful hat Jones will be back early in the regular season, if not for Week 1, but he will not be a full participant in their offseason program or training camp. His familiarity with his scheme and teammates in Indianapolis will allow him to slide back into the starting lineup as soon as he is healthy, but that would be much more difficult in a new offense.