Colts Running Back Jonathan Taylor Faces Trade Deadline Uncertainty

Jonathan Taylor may be preparing to leave Indianapolis.

Taylor has spent six and a half seasons with the Colts and is the franchise's career leader in touchdown runs. He entered Sunday's game at Lucas Oil Stadium with the NFL trade deadline just days away. The Colts have already traded multiple players to collect draft picks and clear salary cap space for 2027. Both Taylor and quarterback Daniel Jones remain eligible for trade before Tuesday.

The team's 27-23 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday marked their fifth straight defeat. The Colts trailed by ten points in the second half before taking a 23-20 lead with 1:37 remaining. Javonte Williams of the Cowboys scored a one-yard touchdown run to tie the game. A late interception by Caleb Downs secured the win for Dallas and extended the Colts' losing streak.

Taylor struggled during the contest. He carried the ball 13 times for 46 yards and caught five passes for 18 yards. He did not score a touchdown. Taylor also lost a fumble in the fourth quarter, which cost the team a key scoring opportunity. He watched a montage of his career highlights on the stadium video boards during warmups, a moment that felt like a farewell despite no official announcement.

Head coach Shane Steichen declined to confirm if Taylor will remain on the roster. Steichen, whose own job security is under scrutiny, stated that he is not engaging in trade speculation and that Taylor is currently on the football team. The coaching staff has appreciated Taylor's focus on his tasks rather than the surrounding rumors.

Quarterback Daniel Jones also faced trade speculation after a poor performance against Jacksonville last week. He was benched during that 42-7 loss. On Sunday, Jones completed 20 of 34 passes for 180 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The interception occurred with 35 seconds left in the game. Jones said he focused on preparing for the game rather than the distractions of the past few weeks.

Receiver Josh Downs, who plays against his brother Caleb Downs, has explicitly requested a trade. He caught three passes for 24 yards on Sunday. Downs said he is open to staying or leaving depending on the team's decision. Taylor expressed gratitude for the city of Indianapolis, noting that he started a family and grew as a person there. He described his time with the team as a period of personal development. Taylor said the situation is now out of their control and the team is playing the waiting game.

The Colts are scheduled to host the Miami Dolphins next week. It remains unclear if Taylor and Jones will be on the field for that matchup. The trade deadline is set for Tuesday, after which the roster status of both players will be finalized.