January 1, Struggling Colts QB Daniel Jones slams front office as team sells off veterans

Wyatt’s Take

• Daniel Jones admits he is not happy watching the front office gut the team while he struggles under center.
• The Colts traded away key veterans before the deadline, leaving the quarterback without the pieces needed to succeed.
• Front office decisions have turned a once-competitive roster into a losing outfit that is now rebuilding on the fly.

The captain of the sinking Colts ship is not happy.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones admitted he is frustrated watching the front office gut his supporting cast.

Before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline passed, acting GM Ed Dodds traded away guard Quenton Nelson, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and receivers Keenan Allen and Josh Downs over two weeks.

Jones, 29, made his displeasure clear when facing reporters on Wednesday.

“I mean, honestly, you’re not happy to see it, right?” Jones said. “You’re a player, and you’re going out there competing and doing everything you can to win games. So you’re not happy to see a lot of those decisions, but like I said, it’s outside of our control, and our job is to play, be prepared, and play well. So, like I said, we got a lot of trust in the guys coming in to those spots, and we’ll be ready to go.”

Jones is stuck throwing to backups, though his own play led to the teardown. Had DJ delivered, Indy would be buying instead of selling.

Through nine games, the $88 million quarterback has six touchdown passes, 10 interceptions and a dismal 68.9 passer rating.

Meanwhile, ex-Colts celebrated getting out. Former Indy wideout Josh Downs posted a Vince Carter tears-of-joy GIF on X right after his Tuesday trade to Kansas City.

“It’s great to join a team like this with so much history, so much winning, in their past and even now,” Downs told reporters on his first day with KC.

Indy’s biggest miss was reportedly rejecting a second- and fifth-round offer from the Giants for running back Jonathan Taylor, then stalling on a trade offer for Grover Stewart until the suitor pulled out.

With their 2027 first-round pick already owed to the Jets from the Sauce Gardner trade, the Colts’ front office needed to stockpile draft picks.

Holding onto Jones, Taylor, and Stewart turns the rest of this season into pointless mileage on veterans who should have fetched picks.

Wyatt Matters

Hardworking folks in Middle America know that when leadership fails to support the team, everyone suffers. Families across the heartland want to see organizations put winning and loyalty first, not sell off talent while the fans foot the bill.