All it took was one trip to the end zone for Jonathan Taylor to receive the drug testing message from the NFL. The Colts running back said he was hit with the requirement following Sunday’s 39-38 loss to the Browns.
Monday, Taylor posted on X that he was drug tested by the NFL. The news comes after scoring his first touchdown of the 2023 season. The running back missed the first four games due to injury and contract disputes.
“Drug tested soon as I get back in the end zone,” Taylor wrote on X.
Taylor had his strongest performance since returning to the field this season. He totaled 75 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 45 yards on four targets.
Despite Taylor’s efforts, Indianapolis fell short of getting an important home win against Cleveland. Browns running back Kareem Hunt scored a go-ahead touchdown with less than 30 seconds remaining. Colts quarterback Gardner Minshew fumbled on the following possession, ending the game.
In his three appearances this season, Taylor has totaled 112 rushing yards on 32 carries. He also has 107 receiving yards on 11 catches. Sunday marked his first visit to the end zone this season.
Details of Jonathan Taylor’s contract with Colts released
After a lot of back-and-forth during the offseason, Taylor and the Colts finally agreed to a contract extension. It happened in October and the running back was activated shortly after the deal came through.
The terms of the agreement include specifics on the running back’s signing bonus. The $10.248 million sum will be broken up into two payments. He’ll get $2.562 million on October 20, 2023, and the remaining $7.686 million on March 29, 2024.
Taylor’s salaries in 2023 and 2024 are both fully guaranteed. By 2025, he’ll make $11.98 million in base salary with $7.152 million in guaranteed money for injury at signing. His roster bonus also increases from $510,000 per game to $1.02 million total in 2025 and 2026.
Taylor emerged as one of the NFL’s top running backs in 2021, rushing for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns that year. He also had 360 receiving yards and accounted for two receiving touchdowns, as well.
Since Taylor’s return to the backfield, the Colts are 1-2. Indianapolis defeated Tennessee 23-16 and suffered losses to Jacksonville (23-16) and Cleveland (39-38).
Indianapolis hosts New Orleans on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET with the game airing on FOX.
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