- Taylor had until August 29th to find a suitable trade offer, but couldn’t
- He had offseason ankle surgery and has not participated in training camp or played a preseason game
- He will be put on the PUP list and miss the first four games
Jonathan Taylor, the Indianapolis Colts’ star running back, remains untraded after unsuccessful solicitations and will begin the 2023 NFL season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
Jonathan Taylor Will Not Be Traded and Will His First Four Games
The Indianapolis Colts’ efforts to broker a deal for their star running back, Jonathan Taylor, met with no significant offers. This development means Taylor will kick off the season sidelined, as confirmed by NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero and later announced officially by the Colts.
Taylor’s placement on the PUP list rules him out for the first four games of the upcoming season, a notable absence for the Colts who had hoped to either leverage his talents on the field or through a lucrative trade deal.
The backdrop to this story saw Taylor in negotiations for a contract extension as he approached his final season under the current contract. When those talks seemed to falter, Taylor requested a trade in July. Initially, the Colts were hesitant, refusing to entertain trade calls. However, eight days ago, in an apparent change of heart, the Colts granted him permission to explore trade opportunities. Despite the increased communication and effort, the search didn’t yield an attractive offer, especially with the roster cutdown deadline looming.
Further complicating matters, Taylor’s recent interactions with the team have been characterized by a series of departures and returns. After a key meeting with Colts owner Jim Irsay, Taylor, who had undergone an ankle surgery in the offseason, requested a trade. Following this, he spent the entire preseason on the PUP list. During the preseason camp, he took a brief hiatus from the team, only to return and then be excused once again due to personal reasons. Eyewitnesses even spotted Taylor in casual attire at a joint Colts-Eagles practice session, coinciding with the day he received the green light to pursue a trade.
Despite these whirlwind events, Taylor’s standing with the Colts has seen little substantial change. This latest news confirms that head coach Shane Steichen will need to adjust his strategy without Taylor’s presence on the field for the first month of the season.
Betting Implications
The Colts weren’t projected to be a competitive team this season as they will be starting rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson and have rookie head coach Shane Steichen. Taylor was spectacular in 2021 as his 1,811 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns led the league, but he had a letdown in the 2022 season as he missed six games due to injury. He’s still the best offensive player on the team, but there is a chance he doesn’t step on the field this field, at least for the Colts, and this team could finish near the bottom of the league.
