Dolphins RB De'Von Achane (rib) could have returned

On Sunday, Riley Leonard performed better than I would have ever expected. And there's a reason for that. I talked to him last week about his expanded practice reps since Anthony Richardson's injury. The scout team reps have been VERY beneficial, he said.

This is just Holder's opinion, who is the Colts beat writer for ESPN. Holder also mentioned that back in summer he didn't think Leonard would be capable of meaningful snaps. Holder added an 0-4 mark to end the season is still possible for the Colts. But, he thinks Leonard can be better after a full week of preparation. Holder added Leonard's a diligent student, soaks up knowledge and is eager to learn more and that he'll be prepared. Leonard isn't someone to grab off the waiver wire and start in 10-team leagues, but in deeper two-QB leagues or superflex leagues, you can never overlook a quarterback who looks like he could get significant playing time going forward.

DK Metcalf was experiencing stomach pains on the flight and out of an abundance of caution, team medical personnel sent him to a nearby hospital. He's flying back to Pittsburgh today.

Metcalf stayed overnight in a Baltimore hotel after going to a local hospital following the game, the team confirmed. It's good news Metcalf is already on his way back to rejoin his team. The Steelers do play on Monday night, so this will be worth monitoring this week as we get to the fantasy playoffs. Metcalf is coming off a 7-148-0 game where he was targeted 12 times.

After all, Daniel Jones is set to be an unrestricted free agent. Before this injury, he was earmarked for a massive extension that would've tied him to the organization for years to come. Now, it doesn't appear like such a deal will be reached. One of the more logical roads the Colts could go down is utilizing the franchise tag on Jones, ensuring he's under contract through next season. While that locks Jones up for 2026, he might not be ready to go at the jump.

An Achilles tear is roughly a nine-month recovery. If all goes according to plan, that would be a rough return date somewhere in early September. That's precisely around the time the 2026 regular season kicks off, so it's a razor-thin margin to even begin thinking about Jones playing at the start of the year. As we've seen in the past, Achilles injuries are an uphill climb, and players are not exactly the same as they were pre-injury right out of the gate, so the Colts will need to have contingency plans at quarterback.

Related players: Anthony Richardson, Riley Leonard

The Colts traded their next two first round picks for Sauce Gardner, a sign they were ready to commit to Jones as their long term option, the story pointed out. The story said the team could go with Richardson or Leonard until Jones is ready to play in 2026, and also assuming they resign him or tag him. The Colts QB situation will be one to watch heading into next season, and maybe even sooner for those in dynasty leagues.