Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones could potentially be wearing purple and gold by the time he returns from his season-ending Achilles injury. <\/p>\n
CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones<\/a> wrote Saturday that “multiple sources have pointed to Minnesota as being a potential landing spot” for Jones following the expiration of his one-year deal with the Colts.<\/p>\n “Unless the Colts are willing to issue the franchise tag, I don’t see it as a slam dunk that Jones is back with Indy next year,” Jones wrote.<\/p>\n It would cost<\/a> more than $40 million for the Colts to tag Jones, whose recent injury and surgical repair puts his availability for the start of the 2026 season in question.<\/p>\n ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler<\/a> recently reported tagging Jones is “not totally off the table” for the Colts.<\/p>\n Fowler projected that Jones will receive $39 to $46 million per year on his next contract in free agency, although he noted the quarterback could be seeking a multi-year deal given his injury status.<\/p>\n Jones spent the back half of the 2024 season with the Vikings as Sam Darnold’s backup following his release by the New York Giants.<\/p>\n Jones said in an Instagram post shared after his season-ending surgery that it “has been an honor to wear the horseshoe and play for Colts fans.”<\/p>\n “I’ll miss lining up with my guys, but I’ll be riding with them every step of the way,” Jones wrote.<\/p>\n Jones returned to the Colts facility and resumed participation in quarterback meetings Friday, per Joel A. Erickson<\/a> of the Indianapolis Star.<\/p>\n Jones’ Achilles tear, combined with a knee injury suffered by backup quarterback Riley Leonard, left the Colts scrambling for answers to the point of bringing 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of retirement.<\/p>\n The only quarterbacks currently on the Indianapolis roster past this season are Leonard and Anthony Richardson, who remains on IR with a facial fracture.<\/p>\n