Jonathan Taylor has been sidelined since Week 12 due to a torn UCL in his thumb, but he could be on the verge of returning to the lineup. Head coach Shane Steichen announced the team’s top running back is expected to play in Week 16.
Indianapolis’ upcoming game against the Falcons was recently reported as a realistic spot for Taylor to return to action, so Steichen’s update comes as little surprise. Still, his addition to the lineup will be a welcomed development as the Colts continue their playoff push. Taylor (who has no injury designation after practicing in full this week) has been limited to seven games in 2023 while dealing with multiple injuries.
That includes the ankle ailment which lasted through Taylor’s turbulent contract talks. In the end, he landed a three-year, $42M extension, raising expectations for his short- and long-term production. The 24-year-old has yet to reach 100 rushing yards in a game this season, however, and his 4.1 yards per carry average is the lowest of his career. Improving in that regard could help the 8-6 Colts stay in contention for a wild-card berth or even the top spot in the AFC South as the season winds down.
Taylor could handle a heavy workload if he is able to play on Sunday, particularly if Zack Moss is unavailable. The latter suffered a shoulder injury in Week 15, and he was forced to leave the win against the Steelers after just four carries. Moss has had a strong season to date, and the Colts enjoyed signficant success on the ground with Trey Sermon and Tyler Goodson last week. Still, Taylor would provide another high-end option in the backfield to close out the season.
Steichen also revealed on Sunday that wideout Michael Pittman Jr. has cleared concussion protocol. That puts him on track to play against Atlanta on Sunday, a game in which Indianapolis could be at or close to full strength in the skill-position department.
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