Shane Steichen Names Daniel Jones as Colts’ New Starting Quarterback: What This Means for the Team

Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced on Tuesday that Daniel Jones will be the starting quarterback for the season. Steichen expressed confidence in Jones, stating, “I don’t want to have a quick leash on that.”

Jones won the job after a preseason competition against Anthony Richardson Sr. With the season opener against the Miami Dolphins only weeks away, Jones is now positioned as the leader of the Colts’ offense. Previously, the duo had been splitting reps with the first team during practices and preseason games, but now Jones will focus on working with the starters.

Steichen emphasized that the competition was designed to be challenging. He said, “I made it very clear that this is going to be a battle, and they’re going to compete for the job.”

During his time on the field in the preseason, Jones played 46 snaps and completed 17 out of 32 passes, totaling 245 yards with an average of 7.7 yards per attempt. He didn’t throw any touchdowns, nor did he have any turnovers, and he was sacked just once.

Consistency has been a key factor in the quarterback selection, according to Steichen. He mentioned it’s not just about stats but also how well the quarterback operates in different situations. “The operation, the communication in the huddle, the checks—getting everyone on the same page—are critical,” he added.

Daniel Jones has played 70 games, starting 69 of them. Throughout his career, he has thrown for 14,582 yards with a completion rate of 64.1%. He scored 70 passing touchdowns and rushed for 15 more. Drafted No. 6 overall in 2019 by the New York Giants, he faced a challenging season last year, which led to his release. He later joined the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad.

Jones also has notable playoff experience; during the 2022 Wild Card round, he led the Giants to victory over the Vikings, completing 24 out of 35 passes for 301 yards, lacking any interceptions.

Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter praised Jones for his experience, noting, “The more football you play, the more you see.” His ability to manage different game situations has been invaluable.

As the Colts prepare for the season, fans will be keen to see how Jones adapts to his new role and how his experience will shape the team’s performance. With recent statistics showing a trend of success for veteran quarterbacks in high-pressure situations, Jones’ background could be a key asset for the Colts this season.

For further insights on player performance, you can check out reports from the NFL here.

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