Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones said this week he is unhappy watching the team’s front office trade away key teammates as the Colts sit at 2-7 on the season.
Before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline, acting general manager Ed Dodds traded guard Quenton Nelson, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and receivers Keenan Allen and Josh Downs over a two-week span.
Jones, 29, addressed the moves when he spoke with 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 now working with a thinner supporting cast, though his own performance played a role in the front office’s decision to sell. Through nine games, Jones has thrown for six touchdowns and 10 interceptions, with a passer rating of 68.9.
Downs, traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, posted a celebratory GIF on X shortly after the deal was announced. Speaking to reporters on his first day with Kansas City, Downs said, “It’s great to join a team like this with so much history, so much winning, in their past and even now.”
The Colts reportedly turned down a second- and fifth-round draft pick offer from the New York Giants for running back Jonathan Taylor, and also did not complete a separate trade involving defensive tackle Grover Stewart before that suitor withdrew its offer.
The Colts’ 2027 first-round pick is already owed to the New York Jets as part of the earlier trade for cornerback Sauce Gardner, putting pressure on Indianapolis to add draft capital elsewhere this season.
