The Indianapolis Colts have spent the offseason trying to build a contender. Whether they actually become one may depend less on their new Draft additions and more on the recovery timelines of several injured stars.
Injuries played a major role in derailing Indianapolis last season, as it became the first team in NFL history to start 8-2 and miss the playoffs.
Daniel Jones And Key Colts Injury Analysis for the 2026 Season
The biggest issue, of course, was Daniel Jones’ torn Achilles. But he wasn’t the only key player sidelined. Newly acquired defensive star Sauce Gardner dealt with an ugly left calf strain. Receiver Alec Pierce played through lingering ankle pain before undergoing surgery in April. Pass-rush anchor DeForest Buckner battled a herniated disc.
So, will Jones be ready for Week 1? And could any of the Colts’ other stars still be feeling the effects of their injuries when September arrives?
Let’s break down each situation, starting with the player who will have the biggest impact on Indianapolis’ 2026 season and continuing by level of concern.
Daniel Jones -Torn Achilles Tendon
The Injury
Jones suffered a torn Achilles tendon on December 7, 2025, and underwent surgery two days later. The typical recovery timeline ranges from nine to 12 months, meaning even an optimistic projection would have him returning around the start of the regular season.
The injury may have been linked to another issue Jones had been managing. Before Week 14, the Colts acknowledged he had been dealing with a fractured fibula in his left leg “for the last few weeks,” potentially forcing him to compensate mechanically before the Achilles tear occurred.
Encouraging Progress
Beginning in late April and proceeding through early May, roughly 4.5 months after his surgery, Jones has already resumed dropping back and throwing. Head coach Shane Steichen described his progress as “phenomenal,” noting Jones has been at the facility daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for rehabilitation.
Jones was operated on by Dr. Martin O’Malley, a specialist who recently performed similar procedures on NBA stars Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton. Tatum famously returned to the court in just under 10 months and has since looked fully restored.
Jones is targeting a return for training camp in late July — roughly 7.5 months after his surgery.
How Other QBs With Similar Injury Fared
There was a time when Achilles tears could be a career-ender for quarterbacks, but that’s no longer the case. The biggest question is how much mobility and explosiveness return, especially in the first season back. That matters for Jones because a significant part of his game has always involved movement outside the pocket.
Aaron Rodgers is probably the modern example most similar to Jones. He tore his Achilles tendon in 2023. Rodgers returned the following season, but early on, he looked noticeably less mobile and more reliant on quick reads. He was still an effective starter, but the injury appeared to change how he played.
Kirk Cousins had a smoother transition after his 2023 Achilles tear because mobility was never central to his style. He returned with much of his arm talent and pocket rhythm intact, which is why pure pocket passers are better bets to rebound from Achilles injuries.
The encouraging precedent is Dan Marino, who tore his Achilles in 1993 and went on to have productive seasons.
There’s one major caveat here: Rodgers was 39 when he tore his Achilles. Cousins was 35. Marino was 32.
Jones is only 28.
What the Colts are saying
The Colts just gave Jones a two-year, $88 million contract worth up to $100 million with incentives. That already says everything about what the Colts expect. It’s not a contract you give a quarterback coming off a torn Achilles unless you have full confidence he’ll return quickly and successfully.
Publicly, the Colts have been consistently optimistic about Jones’ recovery. Steichen said he’ll be ready for training camp, and Jones himself has said he expects to be “100 percent” by Week 1.
Team owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon openly referenced how well the offense functioned before injuries derailed the season, while Steichen has repeatedly emphasized his belief in Jones’ toughness and fit within the offense. Internally, the message has been less about replacing him and more about getting healthy enough to “resume” what the Colts felt was working during their 8–2 start.
The Expectation
Let’s call it cautiously optimistic. So far, everything points to Jones being ready for the September opener. The most realistic expectation is a gradual return where the Colts initially lean on quick passing and a few designed runs. Jones could very well be fully healthy ahead of schedule; if he isn’t, second-year quarterback Riley Leonard is expected to start.
DeForest Buckner -Herniated Disc
The Injury
The Colts’ defensive lineman is recovering from a herniated disc in his neck, which he initially suffered in Week 9 against the Steelers. Buckner returned to the game, but said afterward he began losing feeling in parts of his upper body.
Despite the herniated disc diagnosis and a trip to injured reserve, Buckner tried to avoid surgery and return for a playoff push.
He returned in Week 16 after missing five games plus the bye week, only to aggravate the injury shortly after his return. He was shut down for the season and had surgery on his neck.
Buckner’s Progress
A centerpiece of the Colts’ defense for six years, Buckner says rehab is progressing, and he’s aiming to be ready for training camp. The Colts have expressed optimism as well, but neck injuries are notoriously difficult to project. That’s because symptoms can linger, recovery varies greatly by procedure type, and linemen place huge stress on the spine every week.
How Others With A Similar Injury Fared
J.J. Watt had neck surgery before his final season in the league and still had 12.5 sacks for the Cardinals. Chris Jones dealt with neck issues throughout his career and still performed at a high level.
Perhaps the best-known cervical-disc comeback case is that of Peyton Manning. Though he played a different position than Buckner, the quarterback returned after missing the 2011 season due to multiple neck procedures and won an MVP and a Super Bowl.
The Expectation
At age 32, he’s still one of the NFL’s best interior disruptors, so his recovery is huge for the Colts’ defense. He rarely missed a game before 2025.
Buckner’s game relies heavily on leverage, violent hands, and upper-body strength. A neck injury can affect all of those traits, especially for interior defensive linemen who absorb constant double-teams.
If rehab continues normally, Buckner is expected to at least be available for the start of the 2026 season, if not all of training camp. The question is whether he returns to full explosiveness and strength. He could require more maintenance/rest management than earlier in his career, but don’t bet against him still being a dominant force. It just may not be every snap.
Sauce Gardner
The Injury
Gardner, who had suffered a concussion with the Jets earlier in the season, was traded to the Colts on November 4th. He played well in his first two games as a Colt, but early in his third, Week 13 against the Texans, he suffered an ugly calf injury. Initially, there was a fear it could be much worse, but an MRI confirmed no Achilles tear or structural damage.
Gardner missed the rest of that game as well as the next three. He did return in Week 17 against the Jaguars in a limited capacity, but by then the Colts were in full meltdown mode, and there was no sense in pushing him. He was held out of Week 18.
The Expectation
Despite the initial concern, there’s nothing to see here. It tends to tilt the panic meter when the player your team had just acquired for two first-round picks and Adonai Mitchell goes down and is MIA for most of the final five weeks. However, Gardner’s calf should be fine for training camp and the 2026 season. Expect the star shutdown corner to be in the lineup.
Alec Pierce
The Injury
Pierce had postseason surgery after dealing with ankle pain for much of 2025. The Colts described it as a wear-and-tear type issue rather than from a single event, but a clear timeline does emerge after the wide receiver missed two games. Pierce was active in Weeks 1-8, but in Week 9, he had limited practice due to an ankle injury before playing that week. He missed Week 10. Pierce was active Weeks 11-14, but was not 100% in Week 15 after a limited practice, then missed Week 16. He was active in Weeks 17-18, finishing on the field.
Pierce’s Progress
The Colts were essentially managing a chronic issue during the season, then opted for corrective surgery. The procedure requires a three-month recovery period. Pierce will miss all of the team’s OTAs in May and June.
What The Colts Are Saying
They didn’t have to say anything. They gave Pierce a four-year, $116-million contract extension in early March. They committed to him as a franchise-level weapon and traded Michael Pittman to the Steelers.
The Expectation
Despite the injury, Pierce is coming off a career year: 47 receptions for 1,003 yards with six touchdowns. All indications are that he’ll be ready for training camp with no limitations. Nothing’s ever certain, but like Gardner, there’s really nothing to see here. The bigger question isn’t Pierce’s ankle, but whether he’ll be ready to shine as WR1 after never having a truly big season.
For the Colts, the margin between contender and disappointment may once again come down to availability more than talent.