Colts Stick With Daniel Jones as Starting QB for Week 9 vs. Cowboys

Daniel Jones keeps his job, at least for another week. Shane Steichen said Monday that Jones will start Sunday when the Colts host the Cowboys, a day after he declined to commit to his quarterback following a 42-7 loss in Jacksonville.

"Evaluating the tape, looking back at it, some things he could do better, some things that we need to help him with moving forward," Steichen said, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder. "But I do feel that Daniel gives us the best chance to win right now."

Steichen spread the blame around, too. He said the quarterback "takes the brunt of it all," but pointed to route discipline, blocking and protections as part of the problem. Jones was sacked four times Sunday and the Jaguars hit him 10 times.

The numbers are still hard to defend. Jones went 19-of-28 for 144 yards against Jacksonville, and his two interceptions, one of them a pick-six off a Tyler Warren drop, give him nine on the season. His 39.6 QBR is the second-worst mark of his eight-year career, and Indianapolis ranks 31st in offensive EPA.

Anthony Richardson Sr. finished Sunday's game with the Colts down 35, but Steichen said that was about the score, not a change in plans. Richardson hasn't started a game since December 2024.

The 2-6 Colts have traded Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner in the past two weeks and fired general manager Chris Ballard. They host the 3-5 Cowboys on Sunday at 10 a.m. PT.