Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones has voiced his dissatisfaction with the team's front office decisions following a series of trades that have thinned out his supporting cast. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Jones admitted he is "not happy" to see teammates depart, especially as the team struggles with a 2-7 record.
Over the two weeks leading up to Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, the Colts' acting general manager, Ed Dodds, traded away several prominent players, including guard Quenton Nelson, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Josh Downs. Jones, who is in his second year with the team, acknowledged that these moves are outside the players' control but acknowledged the difficulty of watching them happen.
"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."
Despite his personal frustration, Jones expressed confidence in the players stepping into the vacated roles. "We got a lot of trust in the guys coming in to those spots, and we’ll be ready to go," he added.
The quarterback's performance this season has been a point of concern, with six touchdown passes against 10 interceptions and a passer rating of 68.9 through nine games. His struggles have been cited as a factor in the team's decision to pivot towards a sell-off.
Adding to the team's woes, former Colt Josh Downs appeared to celebrate his trade to the Kansas City Chiefs, posting a GIF on social media shortly after the deal. He later told reporters, "It's great to join a team like this with so much history, so much winning, in their past and even now."
Reports also indicate that the Colts rejected a significant offer from the New York Giants for running back Jonathan Taylor and delayed trade talks for defensive tackle Grover Stewart, moves that the team's front office reportedly made in an effort to stockpile draft picks. With their 2027 first-round pick already committed to the Jets from a previous trade, the organization was looking to replenish its future assets. However, holding onto key veterans like Jones, Taylor, and Stewart means the remainder of the season is likely to involve considerable game time for players who could have been traded for draft capital.