BALTIMORE — Daniel Jones wasn't expecting to play a whole lot in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens.
The plan was for Anthony Richardson Sr. to take the bulk of the first-half snaps, with Jones coming in for the second half of the second quarter. But when Richardson was sacked and dislocated his pinkie on just his seventh snap of the game, Jones got the call. He wasn't watching the play, so he didn't really know what happened — but his coaches told him to warm up, so that's what he did.
"You gotta be ready to go," Jones said postgame. "That's part of the game."
Richardson's injury occurred during the second drive of the game, so Jones remained in the game for the rest of the first half. He ended up taking a total of 31 snaps, leading the Colts on two scoring drives that both ended in field goals. Jones finished the night 10 of 21 for 144 yards.
He had a handful of impressive throws, including a 25-yard completion to wide receiver Ashton Dulin, rolling out of the pocket and twisting to throw the ball, and 15-yard pass to tight end Will Mallory along the sidelines. Jones also dotted a ball to Dulin in the end zone, but the play was called back due to offensive pass interference.
"I thought he did some really good things," head coach Shane Steichen said of Jones postgame. "Obviously had a nice touchdown play that got called back, but made some good scramble plays, had some good throws, had some chunk plays."
"Some good, some bad, caught a rhythm there at some points, we were moving the ball well, executing," Jones said. "But a couple things here and there kept us from getting in the end zone. A lot of good things but we want to score touchdowns."
One of the challenges preseason games can sometimes present, especially for quarterbacks, is the lack of experienced veterans and starters out on the field. Preseason is a time for younger and less experienced players to earn a spot on the roster. But both Jones and Richardson know that's all a part of proving themselves as the Colts' quarterback competition continues.
"Coaches want to see how you're able to adapt in those situations, how you're able to execute and get in the situation and part of it. In this camp, I've had the opportunity to get reps with a lot of different guys. You try to build chemistry and rapport with everyone you're going with and I think that's been good for me, just developing and learning as a quarterback."
As the half continued, that chemistry came to light more and more; those passes to Dulin and Mallory came in the final few minutes of the second quarter. Jones has also been able to develop a strong connection with rookie tight end Tyler Warren, who he found multiple times for short yardage plays.
And for Jones, that's really a lot of what this training camp and preseason is about: building connections with his receivers. He's been working hard to learn and understand his teammates since he joined the Colts — so while Thursday's opportunity was one Jones wasn't necessarily expecting, it doesn't mean he wasn't prepared for it.
Even more importantly, he's ready to learn from it.
"I feel like I've got more and more comfortable as camp's progressed in the system and with our guys, building chemistry, understanding what the coaches want and are looking for," Jones said. "I think obviously still a lot to work on and grow from. I think this tape will be helpful for that…but whatever the case was, I'll look to grow from that. But I feel like I'm in a good place as far as comfort with the system."
