Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Insider shares if Colts could trade RB Jonathan Taylor in October

Indianapolis Colts star running back Jonathan Taylor could come off the physically unable to perform list next week and be on the move before the Oct. 31 trade deadline. 

"...[H]e’s worked his tail off in the time being, as you’d expect he would, and should be ready to roll when he gets the call," NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated said about Taylor for a piece published Friday. "As for the elephant in that room, there really hasn’t been much movement on Taylor’s trade request. It hasn’t been rescinded, and the Colts haven’t gotten any calls on his availability in recent days. What could change that, of course, is everyone getting to see him in games again." 

Breer offered his update after Jeremy Fowler of ESPN noted on Wednesday that he doesn't "see a team that's clamoring to give up a (Day 2 draft pick) for a running back," let alone a running back in the final season of his rookie deal who likely wouldn't enjoy having his rights retained via the franchise tag in March. However, Dan Graziano explained for that same article that Taylor "still doesn't want to play for the Colts, and they still don't want to give him a long-term contract." 

Interestingly, Breer added he thinks that Colts general manager Chris Ballard "will listen" if clubs call regarding Taylor's services. While Breer said that "there are a good number of teams Taylor would fit well and fill a need," Graziano previously linked the one-time First-Team All-Pro selection with a Cleveland Browns side that lost Nick Chubb to a season-ending torn MCL on Sept. 18. 

Without Taylor, the Colts dropped their regular-season opener before winning two straight ahead of this Sunday's home game versus the Los Angeles Rams (1-2). If rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson guides Indianapolis to a third consecutive victory in his return from a concussion, Taylor theoretically could have second thoughts regarding his relationship with what would, in such a scenario, be a first-place team.  

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