The Indianapolis Colts have taken the NFL by storm this season with their first-ranked offense averaging 31 points per game. However, recent struggles have been obvious for the 8-3 team. With the AFC South race tightening, they find themselves needing to fix it all. But their quarterback room isn’t finding any hopeful break. After their primary signal caller, Daniel Jones’ injury, their backup, Anthony Richardson’s, updates are just as disappointing.

“He’s back in the building, attending meetings, etc. Saw him yesterday, in fact,” Colts insider Stephen Holder wrote on X. “But he does not seem particularly close to returning to the field. Had surgery to repair his orbital bone which is super delicate.”

Before their Week 6 clash with the Arizona Cardinals, Richardson Sr. was warming up pre-game with an elastic stretch band affixed to a pole in the locker room. The pole snapped and forcefully impacted his face. The swelling from the injury was so significant that the backup QB’s vision was temporarily impaired, and he had to be hospitalized immediately. It was confirmed that there was no damage to his eye.

The orbital (eye socket) fracture consequently forced the team to place him on injured reserve a day later, meaning he is set to miss at least the next four games. He also needed surgery to repair the fracture.

When asked about his health, head coach Shane Steichen didn’t provide specifics. He did ensure that when Richardson returns, he will resume his role as a backup.

Seemingly, he won’t be returning to the field as a backup any time soon, leaving the Colts with some important decisions to make.

For now, Steichen has to decide who will be the backup to their primary QB, Jones. There’s a high possibility that the sixth-round pick from Notre Dame, rookie Riley Leonard, will step into the position if the team doesn’t sign a veteran signal caller in the situation. The Colts also have veteran Brett Rypien on the practice squad.

Jones’ fibula injury isn’t helping the decisions either.

Jones was placed on the injury report with a fractured fibula just before Week 12. Yet, he started and played the full game against the Kansas City Chiefs, completing 19 of 31 passes with two touchdowns. However, losing the 20-9 lead before losing the game 23-20 has raised doubts about the QB.

The Colts have the third-best offense in the NFL, according to PFF, and lead the league in multiple offensive statistics. With their quarterbacks injured, the situation, though, becomes grim.

The AFC South picture is tightening as the Colts find themselves with only one game lead over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite his injury, Jones will now have to find ways to win against a closing slate of opponents that includes two games against both the Houston Texans (6-5) and Jaguars (7-4), plus matchups with the San Francisco 49ers (8-4) and Seattle Seahawks (8-3).

After trying to prove himself over the years, Jones is enjoying the best season of his career. He’s currently averaging career highs in completion rate (69.1%), yards per attempt (8.1), yards per game (258.2), and QBR (65.9). Now, how he responds will be key to the Colts’ remaining season, but the coaches seem to have complete faith in the veteran.

“I think everything I’ve seen out of Daniel Jones, he’s a man that handles adversity well,” offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said. “He’s very consistent. He’s very dependable. That nature of this business is adversity, getting through it, coming out the other side.”

According to Jones, the fibula condition has been a persistent issue for some time, which is affecting him now. Still, he plans on playing every game, trying to cope with the fracture.

Daniel Jones wants to keep playing through his injury

The reports surrounding Jones’ injury have only grown, but they’ve been positive so far. NFL insider Ian Rapoport recently reported that despite the trouble, he remains unaffected.

“QB Daniel Jones, who has been dealing with a lower leg injury, suffered a fracture in his fibula, sources say,” Rapoport tweeted earlier. “Jones was a full participant today and one source said, “He looked good.” Jones will continue to try to play through it. Toughness never questioned.”

Daniel Jones has already thrown 17 touchdowns this season, but the focus now shifts to the Colts’ crucial home clash against the Texans. Apart from the quarterback room, the Colts also have linebacker Jaylon Carlies, defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, and cornerback Sauce Gardner on their Week 13 injury report with unspecified but full participation status from Thursday.

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With Houston sitting third in the AFC South, a strong outing from Jones could determine whether Indianapolis holds onto first place in the division or gives it up to the closing Jaguars.

Before the next kickoff, it is worth looking at how leadership in the NFL shapes high-pressure moments, just like what the Colts are currently facing. That is where Champ Bailey’s thoughts on Sean Payton’s influence come in.