On Sunday, the Indianapolis Colts lost their season opener to the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-21. Following the game, there were several discussions on social media about Indianapolis. Some fans talked about Anthony Richardson’s promising performance and others discussed how Indy let another game slip away. But, one of the biggest takeaways was about a player that didn’t even play in the game: Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor is currently on the PUP list, as he’s still rehabbing the ankle that he had surgery on early in the offseason. All summer, Taylor’s messy contract situation dominated the headlines. He wanted an extension, Colts wanted to wait until next offseason, so Taylor requested a trade. After some unsuccessful trade negotiations, Indy opted to hold on to Taylor and are determined to make it work.
Throughout the entire saga, the majority of fans have seemingly sided with the organization. That changed on Sunday. Following the game, the phrase “Pay JT” was trending on Twitter, or X, or whatever the people are calling it these days. The point is, Colts fans watched Sunday’s game and determined that Indy needs to pay Taylor enough to mend the relation and keep him on the team.
Fans ask Colts to pay Jonathan Taylor after losing to Jaguars
The reason this became a theme is the performance of Indy’s running backs on Sunday. Deon Jackson got the start, and he had a horrendous day. Jackson carried the ball 13 times for 14 yards and also added five receptions for 14 receiving yards. He also dropped a pass and lost two fumbles. Evan Hull also had one carry for one yard, and Jake Funk had 10 yards on two carries. Anthony Richardson was Indy’s leading rusher with 40 yards.
Now, it is important to mention that Zack Moss was inactive, as he’s still working his way back from a broken arm. Additionally, the offensive line wasn’t really helping the running backs out in the run game. Regardless, there’s a stark difference between Jonathan Taylor and any other running back on the roster, and that was clear on Sunday. Whether or not that means the Colts will pay Taylor remains to be seen.
On Sunday morning, it was reported that Taylor could currently pass a physical and play. That means he’ll likely be activated when he’s eligible in Week 5. However, his future in Indianapolis is still a mystery. Ian Rapoport reported that trade talks for Taylor could resume, and that the path for him playing for the Colts again is an extension. While it’s unclear if that’ll happen anytime soon, it’s clear that Indy needs Taylor.