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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – AUGUST 16: Daniel Jones #17 of the Indianapolis Colts throws the ball during the NFL Preseason 2025 game between Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 16, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The Indianapolis Colts’ QB battle was left in training camp, and Daniel Jones has moved forward as the Week 1 starter in his first season with the franchise.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard has fielded a barrage of questions about the final call, and the responses have been much of the same since August 19.
That said, Ballard’s comparison when speaking to reporters on Wednesday really raised some eyebrows. The eight-year GM mentioned that Jones “reminds him of Alex Smith” when he joined the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013, after being drafted No. 1 overall by the San Francisco 49ers in 2005.
As far as managing the game goes, Ballard could be on to something here.
Jones Steps Into QB1 Role With Similar Questions
Jones won the QB1 job over Anthony Richardson, showing to head coach Shane Steichen he’s consistent and can guide the Colts offense without a hitch. The organization bought in.
“At the end of the day, Daniel [Jones] won the job,” Ballard said, per Matt Adams of FOX 59. “He had a good run here [in training camp].”
“Daniel’s done a lot of good things. He’s a good player. He’s an ultimate professional. He’s a consistent player day in and day out,” Ballard said.
Richardson remains a key part of the Colts’ plans going forward. The No. 4 pick from 2023 has arm power and athleticism that keeps his ceiling high, but he’s still learning the nuances of the NFL after a pair of seasons broken up by injuries.
Ballard made it clear that the Colts are “not trading him,” and they believe in the progress he’s made throughout training camp this summer.
“We knew it was going to take time. I think everybody knew. We knew it was going to be a little bit of a rollercoaster,” he said. “Sometimes you’ve got to take a swing. We took a swing.”
At the moment, the plan seems to allow Richardson to continue working on his mechanics and take some time to learn behind Jones.
How Jones and Smith Compare
With the 49ers, Smith didn’t have a storybook early tenure. Injuries, inconsistent performances, and constant roster turnover made it tough for him to fully settle in the Bay Area.
The talent around him was unbalanced, and he faced enormous pressure as a top overall selection. He often had to learn on the job.
Jones also did, in part, with the New York Giants after being a highly sought-after draft pick. He entered the NFL with immediate expectations, faced offensive line troubles and a dearth of pass catchers.
It’s worth a reminder of how Smith’s life changed when he touched down in Kansas City. He led the Chiefs to an 11-4 record, throwing for 3,300 yards for the first time in his career
Derek Hryn Derek Hryn is a writer for Heavy.com. He has extensive experience covering the NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA football and basketball, along with providing expert fantasy football analysis for DraftKings and SB Nation. His work has been featured at Sports Illustrated, USA Today, NBC Sports, The New York Post, and others. More about Derek Hryn
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