Colts' Shane Steichen Noncommittal on Jonathan Taylor Return

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen declined to say whether running back Jonathan Taylor would return in Week 5.

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen appeared to give the media his best poker face Friday when talking about running back Jonathan Taylor.

Colts fans and media alike are hopeful Taylor will return Sunday to face the Tennessee Titans. Taylor practiced all week and expressed that he "feels really good to finally be healthy."

But Steichen wouldn't say whether the team will activate Taylor for the Week 5 matchup.

“We’ll see. We’ll see," Steichen said when asked about Taylor's playing status. "Conditioning wise he looked good. Again, it’s been a while since he’s been out there, but he looked good the last couple days, and we’ll make that decision when the game comes around.”

Officially, the Colts have listed Taylor as questionable.

The final practice report for #TENvsIND. pic.twitter.com/akN4uMw7Oh

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) October 6, 2023

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Taylor and the Colts have been through a lot the past few months. At one point, it looked like the relationship was beyond repair. Maybe it still isn't fixed, but at least both sides are saying the right things.

Steichen's poker face with Taylor's return is likely an attempt to keep the Titans off balanced. That's not like to be achieved, though, when we all know a healthy Taylor will be in the lineup for any Colts team trying to win. 

Zack Moss has been a savior for Indianapolis in the team's depleted backfield, but he's never done the things Taylor has. Moss is already approaching his career high in carries.

Even if Taylor plays a reduced role Sunday, which Steichen seemed to imply he could since he hasn't played in a long time, Taylor could help keep Moss fresh for the fourth quarter.

Taylor's return should only do good things for rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson as well. The dual-threat signal caller will be even more dangerous if the Titans have to be concerned with Taylor too.

And at 2-2, this is an important matchup for the Colts. It's still early in the season, but first place in the AFC South will be on the line. 

For a matchup like that, Indianapolis should want its best players on the field. When healthy, Taylor still fits that bill.

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