Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is still on the mend following thumb surgery, but the expectation is that he will return at some point this season.
Taylor is now two weeks removed from thumb surgery, and he was given a timeline for return of 3-5 weeks. Head coach Shane Steichen told reporters Tuesday that the plan is still for Taylor to return.
“That’s the plan, yeah,” Steichen said. “The thumb deal, getting him back and carrying the football and pass protection and all that stuff – we definitely got to evaluate that, but it should be good.”
Taylor has been out since injuring his thumb during the Week 12 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He needed surgery to repair the damage, which hindered his ability to carry the football and provide adequate pass protection.
Since Taylor has been on the mend, the Colts turned back to Zack Moss, who enjoyed some incredible success earlier in the season when Taylor was on the PUP list.
That success has not been replicated over the last two games. Moss has taken 32 carries for 79 rushing yards and has failed to reach the end zone.
With four games remaining, the Colts will need to find some balance offensively. Asking Gardner Minshew to play hero ball won’t be the way into the postseason, but it’s also important to avoid rushing Taylor back before he’s ready.
Only time will tell when Taylor will be ready to return, but it does appear he’s nearing the heart of the timeline in which his return is expected.
