Taylor to start season on PUP list after Colts reportedly fail to find trade
The Indianapolis Colts aren't trading disgruntled running back Jonathan Taylor - at least not before the team's self-imposed deadline.
Indianapolis isn't expected to deal Taylor on Tuesday, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN. Without a trade in place, Indy announced that the 24-year-old was placed on the physically unable to perform list, which means he'll miss at least the first four games of the 2023 season.
The Miami Dolphins engaged with with Colts in trade talks regarding Taylor, but Miami's first offer was reportedly rejected. The Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears apparently also showed interest in acquiring the former Pro Bowl tailback.
Indy originally planned to move Taylor by Tuesday before announcing its initial 53-man roster for the upcoming campaign. The club was seeking a first-round pick or multiple Day 2 selections as part of a trade. However, the Colts didn't find what they felt to be the right deal, according to Schefter.
Indianapolis can still trade Taylor, but he'd be ineligible to play the first four games of the season on another team. This year's trade deadline is Oct. 31.
Taylor has topped 1,000 rushing yards twice since the Colts drafted him in the second round in 2020. He finished last year with 861 yards and four touchdowns while missing six games due to injury. The Wisconsin product, who underwent offseason ankle surgery this year, led the NFL with 2,171 scrimmage yards and 20 total touchdowns in 2021 en route to claiming a first-team All-Pro berth.
In their first four weeks of the 2023 campaign, the Colts face the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Rams.
With Taylor sidelined, Indianapolis' running back depth chart is headlined by Zack Moss, Deon Jackson, and fifth-round rookie Evan Hull. Moss ranked second on the team with 76 carries for 365 yards and one touchdown in eight appearances in 2022.
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