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Indianapolis Colts give RB Jonathan Taylor the go ahead to Pursue Trade Options
Introduction
On Wednesday, August 23rd, 2023 the Indianapolis Colts granted their superstar running back, Jonathan Taylor, permission to pursue trade options prior to the 2023 - 2024 NFL season. The Indianapolis Colts have given Taylor up until Tuesday, August 29th, 2023 to find a suitable trade possibility as the Indianapolis Colts authorized the stellar rusher earlier on this week to feel free to engage with other NFL franchises to find a solid trade partner somewhere around the league.
As of now, 6 - NFL teams have seriously inquired about Taylor's availability, and 2 of those teams have come back to the Indianapolis Colts with potential trade offers for the highly - productive running back. One of the serious contenders in landing Jonathan Taylor is the Miami Dolphins.
The situation remains quite fluid, and at the moment it is unclear whether an NFL franchise is willing to meet the Indianapolis Colts' trade demand standards, but the Indianapolis Colts have been described by sources close to the situation as wanted a future 1st - round NFL pick or a package of NFL draft picks down the road worth similar value a 1st - round draft selection.
Tuesday is a significant day in the National Football League, as all teams are required to slim down their team rosters to the regular - season limit of 53 - total players. It's also the day the Indianapolis Colts must make a decision on Taylor's status moving forward. Jonathan is presently on the NFL’s active / physically unable to perform list and must be activated or placed on the NFL’s reserve - PUP list by Tuesday, August 29th, 2023. Players on the NFL’s reserve - PUP list must sit out for a minimum of the first 4 - weeks of the NFL’s upcoming regular season.
For the Indianapolis Colts, the potential of an NFL blockbuster trade for Taylor marks the chance to conclude 4 - very intense weeks between the Indianapolis Colts and Jonathan, whose current contract hold - out with his current team has majorly overshadowed their training camp as well as the preparations for the upcoming 2023 - 2024 NFL season and 2023 NFL preseason. Taylor has not practiced with his team since he reported for training camp way back on July 25th, 2023. Taylor was placed that same day on the NFL’s PUP list due to an ongoing issue with his ankle according to the Indianapolis Colts organization.
The weeks since have been marked by uncertainty about the future of the 2021 NFL rushing leader, who underwent an ankle surgical procedure back in January after missing a total of 6 - games during the 2022 - 2023 NFL season.
It's been an unusually ugly saga for the two parties involved. The Indianapolis Colts owner, Jim Irsay, and Taylor's agent, Malki Kawa, were engulfed in a public back - and - forth on X (Twitter’s new format). Irsay and Taylor also had an uncomfortable and awkward meeting in the middle of a team practice lately where Irsay later made comments to the major sports outlet reporters that he did not sit well with Taylor at that time.
Jonathan's initial trade demands that were issued to the Indianapolis Colts back on July 25th, 2023 quickly came to light, and the situation grew more tense. That is perhaps why the Indianapolis Colts turned the tables and allowed Taylor to pursue a trade partner after Irsay initially rejected Taylor’s NFL trade request.
Taylor has twice left the Indianapolis Colts’ training camp over the course of the past 2 - weeks, first to seek treatment at an off - site medical facility for his ankle ailment and also once again last week to attend to an unspecified personal matter.
When Jonathan returned earlier this week, and he was told that he needed to accompany the team to Philadelphia to play against and practice with the Philadelphia Eagles via a joint practice where the Indianapolis Colts conducted a combined team preseason practice with the Philadelphia Eagles on last Tuesday. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Indianapolis Colts teams are scheduled to meet up for an NFL preseason game this Thursday evening as well.
While the Indianapolis Colts have made it well - known, the Colts will hold tight and strong on their price tag for a potential trade opportunity, and the Indianapolis Colts also faced a delicate situation if Jonathan remains in Indianapolis with the Colts. They first declined Taylor's request for a new contract extension back in May of this year, and that position has not changed.
Meanwhile, Taylor is still wanting out of Indianapolis, according to multiple reliable sports reporters close to the Colts, so reintegrating him into the starting line - up could present some basic and / or complicated challenges. The Indianapolis Colts do not seem willing to budge on a granting Taylor a new long - term contract extension.
Jonathan Taylor’s Football Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
- First - Team NFL All - Pro Selection (2021)
- NFL Pro Bowl Selection (2021)
- NFL Rushing Yards Leader (2021)
- NFL Rushing Touchdowns Leader (2021)
- PFWA All - Rookie Team Selection (2020)
- Bert Bell Award Winner (2021)
- 2 - Time Doak Walker Award Winner (2018, 2019)
- 2 - Time Unanimous All - American Selection (2018, 2019)
- 2 - Time Ameche - Dayne Running Back of the Year Award Winner (2018, 2019)
- Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award Winner (2017)
- 3 - Time First - Team All - Big Ten Selection (2017, 2018, 2019)
Sources:
“Colts field inquiries, trade offers for Jonathan Taylor, source says”, Stephen Holder, espn.com, August 23, 2023.
“Jonathan Taylor”, pro-football-reference.com, August 25, 2023.