Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor isn't hurt, but whether he was going to play in Week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars was doubted by some. The same question has been asked about wide receiver Josh Downs. The answer is "yes," they will play, but there's more.
Taylor and Downs are potential trade targets, and a team looking to rebuild might think about sitting them out of future games so that they avoid the risk of getting hurt. Should they be injured, depending on the severity of the injury, their trade value could be gone.
According to head coach Shane Steichen, Taylor will play against the Jags, and he will not be limited in reps. At least, no more limited than he already is. Rookie Seth McGowan has gotten a few more reps as the weeks have gone by, but nowhere near enough to diminish Taylor's overall production.
Jonathan Taylor (and Josh Downs) are expected to play for the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8
If Indy beats the Jaguars in Jacksonville for the first time since 2014, Jonathan Taylor will almost certainly be one of the reasons why. He was extended before the season, and the team has no pressure to trade him. He could be a pillar of the franchise for several more seasons.
That won't be the case with Josh Downs, unless something surprising happens. Downs has requested a trade after watching left guard Quenton Nelson and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner leave the same way.
Unlike Taylor, Downs is set for free agency next year, and if he stays with the Colts through the rest of the season (or at least past the trade deadline on November 10), then he will probably sign elsewhere as a free agent. With wide receiver Alec Pierce out most of the season so far, Downs hasn't been able to step up into a starring role.
He hasn't been bad, mind you, but he's caught just 56.5 percent of his targets, a career low. He also has 3.7 catches per game, the second-lowest of his career. He might have made himself a lot of money in free agency and been the focal point of the Indy passing attack, but he's been what he's always been: A solid slot receiver.
Maybe he will change that narrative in Week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Maybe he and Jonathan Taylor will help stun the NFL by getting the victory. The likelihood of that occurring isn't great, though.
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