On Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts decided not to trade Jonathan Taylor, their All-Pro running back, as they didn't receive what they considered a fair-value offer, according to sources cited by ESPN.
Since no trade deal materialized on Tuesday, Taylor remains on the physically unable to perform list, which means he won't be able to play in at least the first four games of the season. This makes him ineligible for matchups against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Rams.
The Colts might consider their next opportunity to trade Taylor before the NFL's trade deadline on October 31. If no trade is established by then, the team could opt to use the franchise tag on Taylor and potentially attempt to trade him again during the following offseason.
In a somewhat unconventional approach to shopping a player, the Colts permitted Taylor and his representatives to engage with other teams in the hopes of finding a suitable trade partner. The Colts set a deadline of 4 p.m. Tuesday for a trade agreement to be reached, which aligned with the NFL's deadline for teams to cut their rosters from 90 to 53 players.
This deadline also corresponded to the Colts making a determination about Taylor's roster status, as he had been placed on the active/physically unable to perform list up until this point. Taylor has been sidelined since undergoing ankle surgery and has not participated in practices or preseason games.
Taylor's situation with the Colts dates back to May, when the team chose not to extend his contract as he entered the final year of his rookie deal. Despite leading the NFL in rushing in 2021 with over 1,800 yards, Taylor faced challenges with ankle setbacks last season. He anticipated a contract extension similar to those received by his teammates Shaquille Leonard and Quenton Nelson, who were extended even with a year left on their rookie deals. However, the team's refusal to reconsider their stance and Taylor's observation of the financial landscape for top running backs prompted him to request a trade.
The Miami Dolphins were among the teams interested in Taylor, but the Colts' high compensation demands (initially a first-round pick) deterred other teams from pursuing a deal.
With Taylor unavailable, the Colts' running back unit comprises veterans Zack Moss and Deon Jackson, along with rookie Evan Hull. Moss is recovering from a broken arm sustained during training camp and has never rushed for more than 481 yards in a single season. Jackson's career-high rushing yards in a season is 236. The Colts also released veteran Kenyan Drake and other players at the position.