Colts running back Jonathan Taylor requested a trade following a meeting with franchise owner Jim Irsay, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Saturday.
Earlier in the day, Rapoport reported that Irsay arrived at Colts practice and met with the fourth-year back on board his private luxury bus. The move from the Indianapolis owner seemingly came in an attempt to repair the relationship with the club’s top position player amid reports that the two sides remained far apart on a potential contract extension.
However, not only did the two sides not come any closer to an agreement in the meeting, but the star back has now demanded to be traded.
Sources: #Colts star RB Jonathan Taylor has formally requested a trade after meeting with owner Jim Irsay. pic.twitter.com/BH7dhZAzUD
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 30, 2023
ESPN’s Stephen Holder hinted that Taylor may have actually demanded to be traded earlier in the week, calling the response to the request “not ‘no.’”
Taylor, who led the NFL in rushing in 2021, has made it clear he is not willing to play out the final year of his rookie contract without a new deal.
After rushing for 3,841 yards and scoring 36 touchdowns in 43 games, the former two-time Doak Walker Award winner has put up production in the NFL level worthy of a new contract, but the Colts may have no choice but to move Taylor if the relationship has moved beyond rehabilitation.
