Colts' Ballard: Situation with Taylor 'sucks' but repairable

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard confirmed that the franchise and star running back Jonathan Taylor remain at odds.

"I'm not going to sit here and give you some rosy picture like everything's OK," Ballard said Wednesday, according to NFL Network's James Palmer. "No, it sucks. It sucks for the Colts. It sucks for Jonathan Taylor, and it sucks for our fans. It just does."

While Taylor is still seeking a trade, Ballard expressed an interest in finding a solution with the former All-Pro back.

"I have great respect for Jonathan Taylor. ... Even when it gets hard, I won't quit on the relationship. I won't do it. I think too much of the young man. I think too much of what he's given our organization and how hard he's played for us," Ballard said.

Indianapolis reportedly entertained trade offers from multiple suitors, including the Miami Dolphins and Green Bay Packers. The Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos also reportedly expressed interest.

Ballard confirmed that the Colts granted Taylor permission to seek a trade after the two sides couldn't find common ground on a possible extension. The 24-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2023.

Indianapolis reportedly didn't receive the first-round pick or equivalent compensation package offer it was looking for prior to Tuesday's imposed deadline.

"Jonathan is valuable. At the end of the day, I'm not just going to let him walk out the building. That's not the best thing for the Colts," Ballard added, per CBS' Jonathan Jones.

Ballard said that Taylor's still dealing with pain following offseason ankle surgery. The Wisconsin product is set to miss the first four games of the season after the Colts opted to keep him on the physically unable to perform list on Tuesday. Taylor can still be dealt ahead of the Oct. 31 trade deadline.

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