Third all-time rushing leader names RB he 'won't be surprised' gets 2K yards

Only eight players have ever rushed for 2,000-plus yards in a season. The most recent was running back Derrick Henry in 2020, when he ran for 2,027 yards.

However, former running back Frank Gore, the third all-time rushing leader with 16,000 yards, believes the NFL could witness the ninth player to join the list this season, naming Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.

"If he stays healthy, I won't be surprised if he gets 2,000 [yards]," Gore said via Stephen Holder of ESPN.com. "With his ability and with the way he moves, it's crazy. I already knew he was fast. But what I like is how he moves in small spaces, man. I didn't think he had that."

Taylor, 25, nearly reached the mark in 2021 when he ran for 1,811 yards, but he hasn't had a true shot at doing it again as injuries and a contract dispute hampered his past two seasons.

In 2022, Taylor was limited to just 11 games due to an ankle injury that required surgery. Then, he began the 2023 season on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list.

During that time, he and Indianapolis were in a contract standoff, with Taylor even requesting a trade after a meeting with owner Jim Irsay. 

The two sides eventually reached a compromise, agreeing to a three-year, $42 million extension, but Taylor wasn't activated until October.

Now that Taylor has all his financials settled and is fully healthy, he believes he can pick up where he left off in 2021.

"That's why I work the way I do, because really, when I'm healthy [I produce]," Taylor said. "My rookie year, healthy. And I had a really good year. Second year, healthy. Had a really good year. I know what I can do when I'm healthy."

Gore isn't the only one who sees a big year ahead for Taylor. Offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter has also liked what he's seen thus far.

"JT looks phenomenal out here," Cooter said. "He's running around, he's moving, he's got great energy, fired up ... I think he's in a great spot."

If Taylor returns to his 2021 form, he'll help the Colts compete in the highly competitive AFC South.