The Indianapolis Colts expect Jonathan Taylor to return to training camp sometime this week.
Taylor has both recovered his ankle and was embroiled in a very public contract dispute with the organization this summer. However, Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Sunday that Taylor should be with them for the foreseeable future.
“He should be back this week,” Steichen said through ESPN’s Stephen Holder. ‘Do I know the exact date when he will return? No, but he should be back.
Taylor’s situation with the Colts has been very messy in recent weeks. Taylor officially requested a trade outside of Indianapolis last month after meeting team owner Jim Irsay – who publicly insisted he would not do such a thing. Taylor was eligible for an extension this summer, but the Colts declined to sign a long-term deal with him.
The 24-year-old Taylor had 861 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 11 games last season. He missed part of the season with an ankle injury and had ankle surgery in January. He has recorded 3,841 rushing yards so far in his career and has 33 rushing touchdowns – the second most in the league in that span. He led the NFL in both rushing yards and touchdowns in 2021.
Taylor was placed on the physically unable to perform list when he arrived at training camp last month, and has yet to participate in the preseason with the Colts. Before he can officially return to the lineup, he must be cleared by the team’s medical staff and activated from the PUP list.
While the two sides are clearly not on the same wavelength, Taylor is clearly a very important part of Indianapolis’s recovery effort after last season’s terrible performance. The Colts only went 4-12-1 last year and hired Steichen to replace interim coach Jeff Saturday. Of course, with rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson potentially starting for the franchise this fall, having Taylor in the backfield would be a big help.
Whether Taylor will be ready and/or willing to go for their season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on September 10, however, remains to be seen.
