Colts Keep Taylor Active
Indy’s Pro Bowl running back will carry the ball in Sunday’s game against Dallas, despite swirling trade rumors and a 2-6 record.
By Yasmin Nasser ·
Jonathan Taylor will run the ball against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, and his workload will not be reduced. Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Wednesday that the 27-year-old Pro Bowl running back is expected to play a full role in the matchup.
This decision comes with the NFL trade deadline one day away. Taylor rushed eight times in the Colts’ 42-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. That total is lower than his season low of 15 carries at Pittsburgh and ties for the fifth-fewest carries in his seven-year career. Despite the drop in volume, Steichen stated the team is not trying to protect its top trade asset from injury.
Steichen noted that Taylor is on the active roster and wants to win. The running back finished third in the league in rushing in 2025 and is currently fifth in the stat category this year. He has been a focal point of speculation since general manager Chris Ballard was fired two weeks ago. The uncertainty grew after longtime teammates Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner were traded for draft picks last week.
Team co-owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon appears ready to rebuild for next season. The Colts have already moved forward by re-signing defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore to a two-year contract worth $35 million. The deal includes $22 million in guarantees and a $13 million signing bonus. Adebawore has four sacks this season, matching his career high.
Quarterback Daniel Jones remains the starter despite a season marked by turnovers. He has one year left on an $88 million contract. Receiver Josh Downs is also available on the market after requesting a trade last week. He will face his brother, Cowboys safety Caleb Downs, on Sunday. Steichen said he has not been told by the front office which players to rest or start.
All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner joined the team in a trade one year ago. The Colts were 8-2 when they acquired him from the New York Jets. Since that deal, Indianapolis has won only two of its last 15 games. Gardner said he wanted to make the playoffs but acknowledged the team has more football to play.
Taylor told his teammates in Jacksonville that they must fight out of a corner. He said other teams are watching closely and that the Colts must accept their current standing as a first step toward improvement.
