The Indianapolis Colts didn’t trade Jonathan Taylor on Tuesday. After they didn’t feel there was a fair value offer for their All-Pro running back, sources told.
With no trade on Tuesday, Taylor is physically unable to perform. Which makes him ineligible for at least the first four games of the season.
Taylor will miss at least the games against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams.
The Colts’ next best chance to deal Jonathan Taylor may be before the NFL’s Oct. 31 trade deadline.
If no deal is reached by then, the Colts can use the franchise tag on Taylor and try to trade him again next offseason.
The Colts last week gave Taylor and his representatives permission to engage with other teams in an effort to find a trade partner. Its is an unusual way to shop a player. The team issued a deadline of 4 p.m.
Tuesday to come up with a deal, a timeline that aligns with the NFL’s deadline for teams to trim rosters from 90 to 53 players.
It was also a deadline for the Colts to determine Taylor’s roster status. As he was still on the roster as an active/physically unable to perform.
Jonathan Taylor has not practiced or played in the preseason since ankle surgery.
Taylor’s standoff with Indianapolis goes back to the team’s decision in May not to offer him a contract extension as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.
Taylor led the NFL in rushing with more than 1,800 yards in 2021 before struggling through multiple setbacks with his ankle last season.
After teammates like Shaquille Leonard and Quenton Nelson received full-season extensions on their rookie deals, Taylor expected them to do the same. But when it became apparent the team wasn’t interested in revising its stance. As Taylor observed the financial landscape of elites like Josh Jacobs and Saquon Barkley, he started digging.
Upon arriving at training camp, general manager Chris Ballard was asked about Taylor’s contract. He said that when we need to make these decisions, we will make those decisions.
Later that day, Taylor quietly requested a trade. The Miami Dolphins were among the teams most interested in Taylor, but the Colts’ compensation requests. They initially wanted a first-round pick in the trade. Which proved too rich for the rest of the league.
In Taylor’s absence, the Colts’ running back unit consists of veterans Zach Moss and Deon Jackson and rookie Evan Hill.
Moose, still recovering from a broken arm suffered in training camp. He has never rushed for more than 481 yards in a single season. Jackson’s career high, last season, is 236 rushing yards. The Colts released veteran Kenyan Drake on Sunday, among several other players at the position.