Jones joins the Colts following a disappointing 2024 in which he was released by the New York Giants after 10 games. He quickly took on a backup role for the Minnesota Vikings but failed to make an appearance for the team.
Given the money on his deal, it seems likely Jones will compete for the Colts' starting job. 2023 fourth-overall pick Anthony Richardson has struggled so far over his 15 starts, netting 6.09 yards per pass attempt while throwing for a modest 159.4 yards per game. Most notably, he has shown inconsistency on short and immediate passes: His 47.7% completion percentage last season fell well short of the league average of 65.3%.
Jones is a logical backup or alternative to Richardson. He should allow the Colts to maintain their scheme regardless of which quarterback starts. Richardson and Jones are both capable rushers. For his career, Richardson has averaged 42.3 rushing yards per game at an excellent 5.7 yards per attempt. Jones has been similarly effective over a larger sample size, averaging 31.1 rushing yards per game and 5.5 yards per attempt.
Ultimately, Jones starting a significant portion of the season would be a significant disappointment for the Colts. He has never led a team beyond nine wins or above 21.5 points per game in a regular season. If Richardson can't outplay him, it could very well spend the end of the former first-round pick's career as a starter.
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