Jonathan Taylor Injury Update is Good News for Colts

The latest-injury update on Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor could give the team options.

The drama between the Indianapolis Colts and Jonathan Taylor has been ongoing for months, but one factor that renders all of the conversations moot is his health.

Taylor was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start the season meaning he'll miss at least the first-four games. If he's not healthy, he can't play, and if he's not healthy, he really can't be traded.

The latest update from NFL Insider Adam Schefter suggests health won't be an issue when Taylor is eligible to return to the active roster after Week 4.

"Jonathan Taylor, who now is on Physically Unable to Perform List through Week 4 due to an ankle injury, is 'going to pass his physical and could pass it today,' per source," wrote Schefter on Twitter/X. "Taylor is planning to be ready to play as early as Week 5, when he is eligible to come off the PUP list."

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Taylor passing his physical and returning from the PUP list doesn't necessarily mean he's returning to the Colts. However, he's untradeable if he can't pass a physical.

He's still recovering from ankle surgery after the first injury-plagued season of his football career, including college. General manager Chris Ballard spoke of Taylor's fitness last week and was adamant he wouldn't put Taylor in harm's way.

Some scoffed at Ballard as just posturing in what as been a very-public contract dispute, but Taylor will get the chance in the very near future to pass his physical according to Schefter.

Naysayers may ask the question if Taylor was fit enough to pass his physical prior to the first game, was there any need to put him on the PUP list and forfeit the first-four games of the season?

Maybe. Maybe not. 

But the Colts don't have anything to gain by shelving Taylor. He's more valuable on the trade market with 17-elgible games this season rather than 13, and he's certainly more valuable to the Colts when he's on the field. 

The Colts have historically taken care of their own free agents including signing long snapper Luke Rhodes to a record-breaking deal this week.

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