The Indianapolis Colts are trying to close out a Week 4 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they watched their star RB suffer an injury in the process.
Jonathan Taylor got banged up in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. Here’s the latest on the former All-Pro running back.
What Happened to Colts RB Jonathan Taylor in Week 4?
The Colts have listed Taylor as questionable to return with an ankle injury.
His final play came with 8:52 remaining in the fourth quarter when he took a handoff for one yard.
Taylor was spotted getting his ankle examined and taped along Indy’s sideline. However, he did not have his helmet, which typically indicates that a player is ready to return to game action.
Taylor had taken 21 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown before departing. He added three catches for 20 yards as a receiver.
#JonathanTaylor @Colts
Headed for missed time on same right anklehttps://t.co/RUlUTofVgA pic.twitter.com/rG3IV59nGi— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) September 29, 2024
Trey Sermon received Indy’s final four running back touches. Taylor never re-entered the game on either the Colts’ final two drives.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Taylor is dealing with a high-ankle sprain.
While Rapoport says Taylor’s sprain is a “pretty mild version,” this type of injury typically requires a four-to-six-week recovery period. Whether Taylor can beat the usual timetable remains unclear, even if a source told Rapoport that the Colts RB is “OK.”
After the game, Taylor told ESPN’s Stephen Holder, “I’m feeling pretty good. We came out with the win, so I’m excited to attack this week because this is going to be another tough one.”
Asked if he felt confident about the ankle, Taylor said, “Yes, one thousand percent.”
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After being held to just 48 rushing yards in Week 1, Taylor had eclipsed 100 yards on the ground in each of the past two weeks. He scored two touchdowns in the Colts’ Week 3 win against the Chicago Bears.
The Colts were already without starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, who was relieved in the first quarter after suffering a hip injury.
Fantasy Implications of Taylor’s Injury
Taylor has been no stranger to injuries since his breakout 2021 campaign when he won first-team All-Pro honors after leading the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns. An ankle issue cost him six games in 2022, while a thumb injury sidelined him for seven games in 2023.
Sermon is the Colts’ RB2 and would be in a line for a significant workload if Taylor can’t play in Week 5. Indy will face the 0-4 Jacksonville Jaguars, who rank ninth-worst in EPA per play against the run.
In-game reporting suggested the Colts were playing it safe with Richardson’s injury. But if he sits in Week 5, Indy’s RBs will take any rush attempts that might have gone to Richardson. Flacco certainly won’t be running any zone reads next Sunday.
Tyler Goodson is the other available running back for head coach and offensive play-caller Shane Steichen. He could see more work as a pass catcher and be viable for RB-desperate teams in PPR leagues, but Sermon seems likely to handle the majority of Indianapolis’ RB touches if Taylor is sidelined.