Colts: Coach Steichen opens door for changes after 42-7 loss

The Indianapolis Colts trailed by 35 points with 11 minutes and 53 seconds remaining on Sunday. That deficit capped a 42-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars that forced head coach Shane Steichen to reconsider his roster construction.

Steichen told reporters he plans to assess every position on the team moving forward. He specifically addressed the quarterback position, stating he would evaluate if Daniel Jones remains the starter. This marked a departure from previous weeks, where Steichen had firmly defended Jones after defeats, including a loss to Minnesota where he declared Jones the starter unless informed otherwise.

Jones completed 19 of 28 passes for 144 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He was replaced by Anthony Richardson Sr., the team's fourth pick in the 2023 draft, who finished the game with two completions for eight yards. Jones currently holds the second-lowest quarterback rating of his career at 39.5 and a completion percentage of 60.4, the worst of his professional tenure.

The uncertainty surrounding Jones stems from his recent performance following a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained last season. Although he was re-signed in the spring as the primary starter after a strong start to 2025, his play has struggled since returning. His contract for the upcoming season includes structured guarantees that could allow Indianapolis to exit the deal if desired.

Organizational instability has compounded the questions on the field. The Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard and traded defensive stars Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner in the last two weeks. Running back Jonathan Taylor, who is also a subject of trade speculation ahead of next week's deadline, played on Sunday but handled the ball only eight times.

Steichen noted that the limited carries for Taylor resulted from the lopsided score rather than a deliberate strategic choice. However, the team did substitute backup running back Seth McGowan more frequently than usual during the first half. Taylor acknowledged the team's performance was below standard, describing the loss as an embarrassing defeat.

Jones expressed his desire to focus on daily improvement amid the ongoing roster changes. He stated that maintaining focus on immediate tasks is the priority for the squad as it prepares for the next contest.