Jonathan Taylor reportedly returned to the Colts’ camp on Monday amid a trade request but remains on the PPP’s roster
Indianapolis Colt running back Jonathan Taylor returned to training camp Monday, according to a report. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport after missing time with an ankle injury. Taylor will remain on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, though.
Taylor has been rehabilitating his ankle and has been involved in a very public contract dispute with the organization so far this summer. But Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Sunday that Taylor should be with them for the near future.
“He should be back this week,” said Steichen. Via ESPN’s Stephen Holder. “Do I know the exact date of his return? No, but he must return.”
This exact date ended on Monday.
Taylor’s situation with the Colts has been very messy in recent weeks. Taylor officially asked out of Indianapolis last month after meeting with team owner Jim Irsay — who publicly insisted he would never do such a thing. Taylor was eligible for an extension this summer, but the Colts refused to reach a long-term agreement with him.
Taylor, 24, had 861 rushing yards and four touchdowns last season in 11 games. He missed a large portion of the season with an ankle injury, and had surgery on his ankle in January. He’s recorded 3,841 rushing yards so far in his career, and has 33 rushing touchdowns—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 PUP list when he arrived at training camp last month, and he 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 roster.
While the two sides are clearly not on the same page, Taylor is clearly a very essential part of Indianapolis’ rebounding effort after last season’s dreadful outing. The Colts went just 4-12-1 last year, and they hired Steichen to replace interim head coach Jeff Saturday. With rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson likely to start for the franchise this fall, it’s clear that having Taylor in the backfield would be a huge help.
Whether Taylor will be ready and/or ready to go in the season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 10, though, remains to be seen.
