Updates on Colts RB Jonathan Taylor ahead of his likely activation from the teams PUP list

The Indianapolis Colts seem to be days, not weeks, from activating RB Jonathan Taylor off the PUP list.  The expectation is that the Colts will activate Taylor the first day they are eligible, which is this upcoming Monday following their Week 4 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. But the talk surrounding Taylor still remains […]

Destin Adams — NFL News Writer
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Nov 13, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) gains yardage against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half at Allegiant Stadium.

The Indianapolis Colts seem to be days, not weeks, from activating RB Jonathan Taylor off the PUP list. 

The expectation is that the Colts will activate Taylor the first day they are eligible, which is this upcoming Monday following their Week 4 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. But the talk surrounding Taylor still remains on his public trade request away from the team. 

Colts Stance: 

Contrary to what has been shared, the Colts have never held the stance that they do not want to give Jonathan Taylor a long-term contract. They communicated that they did not feel prior to the season was the right time for his extension but left the door open for those discussions to begin down the road. 

And when I reached out to a team source this week, they kept that same stance.

"We want him (Jonathan Taylor) to be a Colt for life. I think this entire situation has been blown out of proportion. We hope to get him on the field very soon, and to see him play his best football to date. Contract extension talks normally flow naturally after that."

– Colts Team Source

As his trade request stands, I've been told the Colts will continue to listen to calls as they come in. If a team is willing to come up to their asking price, they will play ball with Taylor's request. If a team doesn't meet that price, they still prefer to see Taylor in head coach Shane Steichen's offense, and if things go well, keep him long-term with the team beyond this season. 

This information led me to ask if the team believes their relationship with the RB is repairable after everything that has occurred between the two this year. The answer I was given:

"Of course, it's repairable, at the end of the day, money talks right. And if this were a situation where the team didn't value the player, maybe I'd have a different opinion, but that's not the case. Everyone loves Jonathan here, and at the end of the day, like I said, we want him to be a Colt for life."

– Colts Team Source

Will Jonathan Taylor Play? 

The question on everyone's mind is, will the RB suit up as a Colt after he is activated off the PUP list? While I haven't been able to make contact with Taylor's representation on this subject, I've attempted to think about this situation from his point of view. 

At the end of the day, Taylor and his team's main priority is securing that next contract. And with the state of the RB market as low as it has ever been, his fight is for more than just himself. I believe it is in Taylor's best interest to suit up and play at a high level to increase the chance that the Colts or another team will hand him a top-tier RB extension to meet his desired price tag. And if he can return to the level of play he showed in his 2021 season, I'm sure some of the interested teams could increase their pursuit of the star RB. 

Here is a final bit of info for you on a Jonathan Taylor trade front. I was given a list of teams who have expressed interest in acquiring the All-Pro RB, and here it is. 

  • Miami Dolphins
  • Green Bay Packers 
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Los Angeles Rams 
  • Kansas City Chiefs
  • Buffalo Bills
  • Washington Commanders

Featured Image By: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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