Colts' fire sale deepens after a 42-7 loss to Jacksonville, with the trade deadline a week away
Indianapolis has fired its general manager, traded two Pro Bowlers and fallen to 2-6. Now the questions turn to running back Jonathan Taylor, quarterback Daniel Jones and coach Shane Steichen.
Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, home of the Colts
A week ago the Indianapolis Colts were a disappointing team. After Sunday, they look like a team in the middle of a teardown. The Jacksonville Jaguars beat them 42-7, dropping Indianapolis to 2-6 with four straight losses and leaving coach Shane Steichen answering questions about whether he will be around much longer.
The game itself was ugly from the start. Quarterback Daniel Jones completed 19 of 28 passes for 144 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions before giving way late to Anthony Richardson, Yardbarker reported. Steichen declined to commit to either quarterback after the game, saying the staff would evaluate everything, though ESPN reported that he is sticking with Jones as the starter for Sunday's home game against Dallas.
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The roster was already shrinking before kickoff. Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon fired general manager Chris Ballard on Oct. 19, and assistant GM Ed Dodds took over oversight of the personnel department. A week later, on Oct. 27, Indianapolis traded guard Quenton Nelson to Seattle for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick, and sent defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back to San Francisco for a 2027 fourth-rounder, per Yahoo Sports. Both players were in the final year of their contracts.
The numbers behind Steichen's situation are not kind. Athlon Sports pointed out that Indianapolis has lost 13 of its last 15 games, going 2-13 since a hot 8-2 start last season, and that Steichen is 27-31 in his fourth year with the team. The Colts have not made the playoffs since 2020. Steichen was Ballard's hire, and Athlon's headline argued that he should go too.
The trade deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m. Eastern, and more moves may be coming. ESPN reported there is constant speculation that star running back Jonathan Taylor could be traded as the team tries to recover draft picks, and Steichen confirmed that receiver Josh Downs has asked to be traded. It is not clear whether either will go. The Colts also lack their own first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 after last year's trade for cornerback Sauce Gardner, The Big Lead noted, which helps explain why the front office is looking for extra picks.
Not everyone is being shipped out. On Tuesday the team agreed to a two-year, $35 million extension with defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore, a 2023 fourth-round pick who has a team-high four sacks this season, ESPN reported. The Colts turned away trade interest in him to get the deal done, which suggests the organization wants to keep some young players while it retools.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, improved to 5-2 and leads the AFC South, and Seattle and San Francisco, the teams that picked up Nelson and Buckner, are both still in the playoff hunt. For Indianapolis, the next week will show how far the teardown goes. The Colts host the Cowboys on Sunday, and whoever is still on the roster by the Nov. 10 deadline is a player the team has chosen to keep.