Colts head coach Shane Steichen on Tuesday said quarterback Daniel Jones has resumed dropping back and throwing about four and a half months following a torn Achilles' sustained Dec. 7.
Steichen added the Colts "anticipate him being ready for training camp." That continues to track with what Jones said in January, about a month out from the injury and subsequent surgery, which was that his goal is to be ready to go for training camp.
The surgeon who performed Jones' surgery is the same doctor who two NBA stars had operate on their respective torn Achilles': Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton and Boston Celtics forward Jason Tatum. While the timing of Haliburton's injury in Game 7 of the NBA Finals held him out of the entire 2025-26 season, Tatum returned nine months after his procedure and averaged 21.8 points in 16 regular-season games – and now has the Celtics as a prime NBA title contender in the playoffs.
Steichen said he talked with Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens about Tatum's recovery, with the ex-Butler head coach telling Steichen Tatum was able to get back successfully because of his unwavering commitment to the rehab process.
"Tatum was in the building all day," Steichen said. "Daniel's the same way."
Football is back in the building! Check out the top photos from Day 1 of the Colts' offseason program, including a first look at the team's new faces.
DT Tim Smith #93 and DE JT Tuimoloau #91
DT Grover Stewart #90
DE Laiatu Latu #97
CB Charvarius Ward #7
CB Charvarius Ward #7
DT Tim Smith #93
DT Adetomiwa Adebawore #95
DT Micheal Clemons
S Daniel Scott #36
CB Jonathan Edwards #35
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Justin Walley #27
S Daniel Scott #36
S Hunter Wohler #30
DT Grover Stewart #90
CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
S Jonathan Owens
CB Cam Taylor-Britt
K Spencer Shrader #3
DT Colby Wooden
DT DeForest Buckner #99
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DT Grover Stewart #90
S Nasir Adderley
DT Micheal Clemons, CB Sauce Gardner #1 and WR Eli Pancol #83
DT Grover Stewart #90
DE JT Tuimoloau #91
DE JT Tuimoloau #91
CB Sauce Gardner #1
LB Austin Ajiake #58
DE JT Tuimoloau #91
CB Charvarius Ward #7
S Trey Washington #41
CB Sauce Gardner #1
LB Austin Ajiake #58
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Cam Taylor-Britt
S Jonathan Owens
DE Arden Key
DT Grover Stewart #90
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DE Arden Key
G Quenton Nelson #56
C Jimmy Morrissey #65 and G Quenton Nelson #56
C Jimmy Morrissey #65
C Jimmy Morrissey #65 and G Quenton Nelson #56
C Jimmy Morrissey #65
G LaDarius Henderson #69
G Bill Murray #62
MacKenzie Scovill - Physical Therapist
T Bayron Matos #78
T Bayron Matos #78
G Matt Goncalves #71
OL Josh Sills #66 and TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Tyler Warren #84
T Jalen Travis #75 and T Jack Wilson #76
T Bernhard Raimann #79 and G Quenton Nelson #56
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
TE Drew Ogletree #85
WR Laquon Treadwell #13
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
G Tanor Bortolini #60 and G LaDarius Henderson #69
G Tanor Bortolini #60
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
WR Josh Downs #2 and WR Eli Pancol #83
WR Josh Downs #2
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
TE Tyler Warren #84 and TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
QB Riley Leonard #15
WR Anthony Gould #6
WR Anthony Gould #6
T Jalen Travis #75
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Josh Downs #2
QB Riley Leonard #15
WR Eli Pancol #83
T Bernhard Raimann #79
TE Drew Ogletree #85
TE Tyler Warren #84 and TE Drew Ogletree #85
QB Daniel Jones #17
QB Daniel Jones #17
TE Mo Alie-Cox #81
G Quenton Nelson #56
QB Riley Leonard #15
T Bernhard Raimann #79
T Bernhard Raimann #79
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
G Quenton Nelson #56
QB Riley Leonard #15
QB Daniel Jones #17
T Bernhard Raimann #79 and C Jimmy Morrissey #65
QB Daniel Jones #17
Jones has consistently been at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center for hours a day over the last few months. His dedication to the rehab process, Steichen said, has allowed Jones to get to the point where he's dropping back and throwing four and a half months post-surgery.
And while Steichen (and general manager Chris Ballard) didn't rule out Jones participating in some capacity during OTA practices later this spring, he emphasized there's no rush to get Jones back on the field right now.
"We gotta be smart with him for sure," Steichen said. "... I know he's ripping and roaring and ready to go, but we gotta be smart."
