The quest to secure a substantial offer for running back Jonathan Taylor by the Indianapolis team has yielded no fruitful results, setting the stage for an intriguing upcoming season for both the player and the team.
Reports from NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero on Tuesday indicate that the Colts have opted to place Taylor on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, signaling that a trade involving the star running back is not on the immediate horizon. This move has been confirmed by the team itself.
As a result of this decision, Taylor is slated to be absent for the first four games of the 2023 season due to his placement on the PUP list at the start of the campaign.
Earlier, Indianapolis had granted Taylor the permission to explore a trade, a decision that came eight days after he expressed his desire for an extension before entering his final season under contract. This change in approach followed the team’s initial refusal to engage in trade discussions after Taylor initially requested a trade in July. Despite the increased communication efforts, a compelling trade offer failed to materialize. Consequently, as the cutdown deadline loomed at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the Colts chose to retain Taylor on the PUP list instead of using up a roster spot.
The genesis of Taylor’s trade request traces back to a meeting with Colts owner Jim Irsay. Subsequently, he spent the entire preseason on the PUP list due to an offseason ankle surgery. Taylor’s preseason was marked by his temporary absence from camp and his later excusal due to personal reasons. During the Colts’ joint practices with the Eagles last week, Taylor was seen in regular clothing on the day he was granted permission to seek a trade.
Despite the fluctuations between his presence at the team facility and his temporary departures during the training camp, coupled with the Colts’ vacillation between declining trade offers and contemplating them, significant progress regarding Taylor’s status with the team has been minimal. The recent development ensures that he won’t be at the disposal of head coach Shane Steichen for the initial month of the season.
The unfolding scenario will reveal whether the two parties can reconcile their differences and find common ground in their collaboration for 2023 or if a separation is merely a matter of time.