Colts make the right decision by choosing not to play Jonathan Taylor in the preseason
By Dailey Gee
With the preseason underway, Indianapolis Colts coach Frank Reich opts to keep Jonathan Taylor off the field for the entirety of the preseason.
This decision should not come as a surprise to anyone, as Indianapolis Colts head coach, Frank Reich, decided that Jonathan Taylor would not play any preseason games. There is no reason that starters need to be playing much of the preseason anyway but Reich played the starters not named Taylor for a little over a quarter Saturday in Buffalo.
The starters likely will not play any this upcoming Saturday at home against the Detroit Lions because Indy is having multiple joint practices with the Lions. Reich did say, however, that the starters would get a good amount of run in the preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ultimately, there are plenty of reasons that the decision to not play Jonathan Taylor was an easy one for Frank Reich and company.
Frank Reich said the plan is to not play Jonathan Taylor in any of the preseason games this year.
— Nate Atkins (@NateAtkins_) August 13, 2022
No starters will play next week due to the joint practices with the Lions.
Jonathan Taylor has nothing to prove.
Most of the guys that you see playing in the preseason are battling for a spot or getting familiar with a system. JT is not in either of those categories. In his two years in the league, he has 2,980 rushing yards and a whopping 29 touchdowns. Jonathan Taylor is truly one of the best players in the NFL. He really put the league on notice last season as one of the most dominate players in the NFL. At 23, Taylor is at the top of the rankings in his position as well. The Colts would be crazy to play Taylor in the preseason as there is too many things that can go wrong.
Other running backs will be evaluated
With the sitting of Jonathan Taylor, chances have arose for other guys in this Colts backfield that are looking for a roster spot. Last week, Nyheim Hines got a good amount of run in the first preseason game. But like Taylor, we know that Hines is going to have a big role on this team. Taylor sitting really benefits more to guys like Phillip Lindsay, and Ty’Son Williams.
They are battling for the third running back spot on this team. I have to say, I like what both of these guys bring to the table. I am not sure if the Colts will keep both when the final cuts are made, but you can make a viable argument for both of these guys. All three of these guys looked really good last Saturday. This group was the group I was most impressed with from the first preseason opener. I think Colts are in good hands with this core. I would argue that Indianapolis has the best 1-3 running back core in the league.
Avoid the risk of nonsense injuries
If you have watched any games or kept up with sports news over the last week, you have seen that there have been a lot of injuries to not only players, but to key players. Yes, I know that there is a chance that Taylor could get hurt in practice but you have to take the chance. You need to be preparing him for the season.
What you absolutely do not have to do is play him in three games that mean nothing. Taylor has battled some nagging injuries over his first couple years and I think it would be ignorant to have arguably your best player on the field more than he needs to be, especially in games that mean absolutely nothing as far as win/loss.
