Daniel Jones’ hold on the Indianapolis Colts’ starting quarterback job is suddenly in question, and fans want him benched, with some favoring Anthony Richardson Sr.

The Colts pulled Jones with a little over 11 minutes left in Sunday’s 42-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium. Afterward, head coach Shane Steichen said he is evaluating everything, including whether Jones remains the starter, according to James Boyd of The Athletic.

How Sunday Unraveled for Daniel Jones

The afternoon got away from Jones before halftime. The Colts punted five times and lost a fumble on their first six possessions, and they trailed 21-0 when a Caden Curry fumble recovery set them up at the Jaguars’ 31 with under a minute left in the half.

On the third play of that drive, Rayuan Lane III picked off Jones and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown and a 28-0 halftime lead.

Jones came back out for the second half and hit Josh Downs for a 6-yard score in the third quarter, the Colts’ only points. Branson Combs intercepted him on his first drive of the fourth, and Richardson took the next series. Jones’ day ended at 19 of 28 for 144 yards, with three sacks.

One fan had seen enough, calling Jones “the greatest thief in NFL history” and adding, “$210 million dollars worth of contracts and he has never been good.”

Jones signed a four-year, $160 million deal with the New York Giants and later joined the Colts on a one-year, $14 million contract for 2025.

That first Colts season was a different story. He threw 19 touchdowns in 13 starts before tearing his Achilles in the first quarter of a Week 14 loss at Jacksonville, which dropped the Colts from 8-4 to 8-5. The Colts lost their final five games, including the Week 14 game in which Jones tore his Achilles, and missed the playoffs.

Pro Football Network’s NFL QB Impact Grade had Jones at 81 for that full season, tied for eighth of 38 graded quarterbacks. In March, he and the Colts agreed to a two-year, $88 million deal, with $50 million in the first year, and he worked his way back from an Achilles injury in time to start Week 1.

That contract hangs over several of the reactions. Another fan put it bluntly.

“Bench Daniel Jones (for) the rest of the season so he can’t claim injury and collect another $12 million. Top 5 worst decisions in NFL history.”

Jones does have a significant 2027 guarantee tied to his contract, though Over The Cap lists the relevant figure at $10.51 million rather than $12 million.

The Case Against Jones and for Anthony Richardson Sr.

One fan tied the money to the alternative: “Such a disastrous contract. See what you have in Anthony Richardson.”

Others zeroed in on the play itself, with another fan asking, “Does Daniel Jones really prepare? He looks worse and worse every week.”

Heading into Sunday, Jones had thrown four touchdown passes against seven interceptions in seven starts. The Jaguars game left him at five touchdown passes and nine interceptions through eight starts.

Another fan’s patience had run out entirely: “Daniel Jones is so bad. Can’t play this at QB anymore. Just go to anybody else at this point.”

One fan reduced it to a head-to-head: “There’s no objectively right argument that can convince me that Daniel Jones is better than Anthony Richardson.”

Richardson is the quarterback Jones beat out for the job in 2025, and Sunday gave him little room to make his own case. Over three fourth-quarter series, he completed both of his passes for 8 yards and took a sack, and the first of those drives ended on downs.

Jones has started all eight of the Colts’ games this season. Whether that run reaches nine is the call in front of Steichen, with the Colts, now 2-6 and third in the AFC South, hosting the Dallas Cowboys on November 8 at Lucas Oil Stadium.