Colts HC's explanation for Jonathan Taylor's absence should concern fans

Colts owner Jim Irsay met with the 2021 rushing champion in late July and it's been reported that the 24-year-old requested a trade, which the Irsay evidently shut down.

It was further reported last week that the team asked Taylor, who had undergone minimally invasive ankle surgery during the offseason, to report to Indianapolis before training camp to be examined by the team's medical staff, which allegedly angered him. On top of the ankle ailment and contract dispute, there's the reported back injury (which the former second-round pick vehemently denied).

Taylor has been on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list since training camp began and while he's typically been in attendance at practices, that wasn't the case on Tuesday.

ESPN's Stephen Holder reported Tuesday morning that his "understanding" was that the former All-Pro was "not on the premises."

Taylor was limited to 11 games last season due to his ankle injury, finishing the campaign with 861 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

Taylor is not only the Colts best offensive weapon, but the team has little running back depth behind him. Zack Moss is projected as Taylor's backup but suffered a broken arm at the end of July, leaving him sidelined for an estimated six weeks.

Third in line is undrafted Duke product Deon Jackson, who has all of 81 rushing attempts over 25 games in his two seasons. Behind Jackson is 29-year-old Kenyan Drake, who's on his fifth team since 2019.