Jonathan Taylor didn’t sugarcoat anything after Sunday’s 42-7 loss in Jacksonville, and Colts fans back home heard a star running back telling his locker room the season is about to get harder. “It’s not going to get any easier,” Taylor said, per FOX59. “It’s actually going to get even harder and teams are going to look at us even more with foamin’ at the mouth.”
That message landed with the Colts at 2-6, days after they made Taylor available in trade talks, and a week before the Nov. 10 deadline.
Taylor put the loss on himself
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Taylor ran eight times for 23 yards, and after a 19-yard carry on his first attempt, his other seven gained 4 yards, according to the team. He also lost a fumble on a gadget play. He didn’t hide from any of it.
“I’m part of this,” Taylor said. “My performance was nowhere near up to par. It’s not like I’m sitting here (where) I went for 200 yards and five touchdowns and we still lost. No, I’m part of it.”
Running behind a line that lost Quenton Nelson last week, Taylor had a 44.3 rushing grade, according to PFF, and left guard Jalen Farmer graded at 30.5. It’s the kind of afternoon that gave interested teams little to like, though one bad game in the rain doesn’t erase 610 rushing yards and eight touchdowns through eight games.
The Colts have a week to decide
Indianapolis is open to trading Taylor and has had talks with multiple teams, sources told ESPN, though owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon would prefer he be part of the rebuild. CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala reported Sunday the Colts are not actively soliciting offers. Those positions can both be true for a team that already turned down a second-round pick.
Taylor has said he hasn’t asked for a trade, unlike Josh Downs, and his words Sunday read like a player planning to stick around for the hard part. That is what makes this uncomfortable for Indianapolis. The Colts’ best player is also their best trade chip, and he just told everyone the next nine games will only get harder.
Dallas visits Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday. If Taylor is still in the backfield, he’ll get the first chance to prove his own point, and if he isn’t, we already sorted through the best trade options for what Indianapolis could get back.
More on the Indianapolis Colts
- Are the Colts Already Playing for 2027? What Their Week 8 Blowout in Jacksonville Told Us
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- Indianapolis Colts Are Doubling Down on Their Stalled QB Plan
- Colts Had Seven First-Half Possessions in Jacksonville, and None of Them Went Anywhere Good
