"I wouldn't pay him": 2x Super Bowl champ Chris Long urges Colts to hold off on extending Daniel Jones after star QB's Achilles tear

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones tore his Achilles tendon in the team's 36-19 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 14 on Sunday. The QB is set to undergo surgery after his non-contact injury and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Although Jones has been a revelation for Indy this season, former NFL defensive end Chris Long believes the Colts should pause on extending the signal-caller's deal after his season-ending injury.

"For me to sit here and say that football should be fair and Daniel Jones should get paid, because he earned that paycheck, that sounds good in theory ... if they don't pay him, I wouldn't be mad at them," Jones said on his "Green Light" show on Monday. "You know, if they do, there are options here.

"My initial inclination was, no, I would not pay him because Achilles is nine to 12 months in recent history. Would tell you that quarterbacks don't look as good off an Achilles, at least not the first year ... But in my mind, I have no idea what you're doing until you tell me the training staff, what kind of track is he on if we get this thing surgically repaired? But let's say he's a year. I wouldn't pay him, and that's tough."

Long played 11 seasons in the NFL. He won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jones signed for the Colts in the offseason, after a disastrous 2024 season with the New York Giants. In his first year with Indy, Jones posted 3,101 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, eight interceptions and five TDs, putting the team in an excellent position to make the playoffs.

Jones reportedly signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Colts. However, Indy has a decision to make on whether it wants to keep the QB for the long haul.

Riley Leonard expected to take Colts QB1 job after Daniel Jones' injury

Indianapolis Colts QB Daniel Jones - NFL 2025 - Source: Getty

Following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles injury, Riley Leonard is set to take over as Indy's QB1 for the rest of the season.

Leonard replaced Jones in Week 14 against the Jaguars. He completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards with an interception and a rushing touchdown.

Leonard is dealing with a knee injury, but the Colts will hope that he can recover in time for the Week 15 game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.