Jonathan Taylor Returns as Colts Brace for Critical Stretch

The Indianapolis Colts are getting star Jonathan Taylor back ahead of three straight AFC matchups against teams in the early playoff picture.

The Indianapolis Colts hold a 2-2 record and sit atop the AFC South. While it's much too early to make postseason proclamations, the Colts' current reality is what it is.

They've managed to weather some early-season storms as critical players have missed time with injuries, but things are looking up ahead of an important stretch of their schedule.

On Saturday, the Colts activated running back Jonathan Taylor from the Physically Unable to Perform list and also provided him with a three-year contract extension. The 2021 rushing champion missed the first four weeks while rehabbing from his January ankle procedure but is an eagerly welcomed addition to the Colts now.

If the playoffs started today, technically the Colts would be in it as the fourth seed, but the AFC is loaded with competitive teams, especially featuring top quarterback play. Starting this Sunday, the Colts will face three consecutive AFC opponents holding the same .500 record as them and therefore are in the early-season postseason mix.

Week 5 vs. Tennessee Titans (2-2)

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This week's matchup is against a team that has had the Colts' number, as the Titans have won five straight against the Colts, and six of the last seven. The Colts will look to finally flip the script but they're going to need quarterback Anthony Richardson, running back Zack Moss, and whatever capacity Taylor will be used in order to set the tone on the ground.

That will be easier said than done as Tennessee's defense is fourth in the NFL against the run (70.0 YPG) and first in yards per carry (2.9 avg.). They're also one of just six teams to allow 1 or fewer touchdown runs.

One reason the Titans are effective against the run is that they're getting a strong effort from their secondary, as defensive backs Kevin Byard, Roger McCreary, and Elijah Molden all hold a run-defense grade above 80.0, according to Pro Football Focus.

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Week 6 @ Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2)

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The Titans have largely owned the AFC South for the last decade but the Jaguars finally knocked them off last season and took the crown.

Jacksonville beat the Colts in Week 1 but hasn't yet looked like they're going to take the next step into full-throttle ownership over the division.

The matchup in Week 1 was a rough one for the Colts, particularly on the ground. They had just 65 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries and the vast majority of that was from Richardson.

This is a much different rushing attack for the Colts than back in Week 1, as Zack Moss has 280 yards in the three games he's played (didn't play in Week 1), and Taylor will have been back for a couple of weeks by the time of this next matchup.

Still, the Jaguars are tied for eighth against the run (94.8 YPG) and tied for 11th in yards per carry (3.9).

Week 7 vs. Cleveland Browns (2-2)

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The Browns have yet to find the consistency they hoped after making a huge investment at quarterback but it's still a dangerous team with loads of talent. Defensively, Myles Garrett leads the charge but the Cleveland defense as a whole has been quite good against the ground game, ranking fifth overall (71.8 YPC) and tied for third in yards per carry (3.2).

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