The Indianapolis Colts begin the regular season Sunday without star running back Jonathan Taylor, who will miss at least the first four games on the Reserve/PUP list.
While a report surfaced Sunday morning that Taylor is healthy, able to pass a physical and has plans to be ready to play by Week 5, it appears the trade talks may continue around that time.
Buy Colts TicketsHowever, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network also reported that the Green Bay Packers offered two mid-round picks before the self-imposed deadline in August and that those trade talks are over with the start of the season commencing Sunday.
Sources say Taylor is healthy and likely would be able to pass a physical today if one was required. That indicates he would be able to come off the PUP list as soon as is allowed. (The Colts placed Taylor on PUP on Aug. 29 as he continued to recover from an ankle injury that required offseason surgery.)
When Taylor requested and received permission to seek a trade in August, the Dolphins and Packers were the two main potential landing spots. Green Bay offered two mid-round picks for Taylor, but now that the regular season has started, those talks are over, sources say.
What happens next with this saga is truly anyone’s guess. Though the Packers and Dolphins reportedly had contracts in place for Taylor had a trade gone through before the Aug. 29 deadline, the Colts weren’t going to simply give him away for a pair of mid-round picks.
Whether the relationship between the Colts and Taylor is repairable remains to be seen. General manager Chris Ballard said in his preseason press conference that he wouldn’t give up on the relationship with Taylor.
But there’s also a chance trade talks resume over the next month or so, especially with the Dolphins, per Rapoport.
Don’t be surprised if Miami is still an option, sources say. They had extensive talks with Colts general manager Chris Ballard and despite discussing various options — picks, players, both — no deal grew imminent.
Rapoport admitted the chances of Taylor returning to the Colts are slim but possible. He also said the “waters are calming down” but for Taylor to return to the field for the Colts, a contract would be required, which shouldn’t come as a surprise.
It’s difficult to know exactly what to believe in this saga surrounding the Colts running back, but this will certainly be one of the biggest storylines to monitor even with Taylor off the field for at least the first month of the season.
