Colts’ Daniel Jones holds off on 11-on-11 work at minicamp as Achilles rehab continues

The Indianapolis Colts will keep Daniel Jones out of full-team 11-on-11 practice at this week’s mandatory minicamp, a pacing decision tied to his return from a torn Achilles. Jones has progressed to earlier stages of on-field work during the offseason, but the Colts are choosing not to force the next jump to full competitive reps before the summer work culminates in training camp.

According to reporting from NBC Sports, Jones did ask to move up to 11-on-11 during the minicamp window. The team declined that request and instead will continue with a lighter workload schedule. He previously took part in 7-on-7 drills earlier in the offseason program, which is typically used to sharpen timing and route concepts without the full collision and defensive-front demands of 11-on-11.

Jones, in the same coverage, offered a self-assessment of his rehab timeline. He said he believes he is “closer,” but not fully there yet, adding that there is still “work to be done.” The message from the team, as described by NBC Sports, is that even with quick progress, Colts head coach Shane Steichen wants to be deliberate with the medical and practice development process.

That approach also reflects how NFL teams manage return-from-injury rehabilitation during the early offseason. Minicamp is the league’s last mandatory on-field checkpoint before training camp and preseason, but it is not designed to test a player’s readiness for every type of play. Moving Jones to training camp instead of finishing the jump at minicamp suggests the Colts see value in preserving the last mile of conditioning and strength-building for a higher-intensity environment.

The minicamp availability picture extends beyond Jones. NBC Sports reported that wide receiver Alec Pierce will not practice this week due to an ankle issue, and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner will also be held out as he continues recovery tied to a neck injury that required surgery earlier in the offseason-to-late-season cycle. Colts head coach Shane Steichen indicated the plan is to get both players on the field when the team reports for training camp.

Other roster pieces are also being managed in parallel. Reporting from Yahoo Sports described a similar pattern across the Colts’ practice group, noting that Jones is scheduled again for the same 7-on-7 and individual-drill format this week while the Colts hold the 11-on-11 step for later. That reporting also tied Buckner and Pierce’s status to broader readiness timelines rather than any attempt to push them into work they are not yet medically cleared to handle.

For the Colts, the immediate watch item is not only whether Jones can increase the volume of reps, but whether the system looks the same once he reaches full-team practice in training camp. For the rest of the offseason, play-calling and timing can remain largely consistent in 7-on-7 settings, but 11-on-11 is where protections, reads, and rhythm under pressure are tested. The Colts’ decisions this week indicate they intend to enter training camp with a calmer, medically conservative plan rather than a rushed ramp.

In the background, the franchise quarterback’s participation also affects the evaluation process around him. Indianapolis will be looking to build continuity in protections and route combinations while quarterback work remains the organizing force for the offense. As training camp approaches, the Colts’ ability to get Jones back into full competitive work will shape how quickly they can complete that cycle and establish their preferred quarterback-receiver and quarterback-line communication for the preseason.

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