Shane Steichen gives updates on Jonathan Taylor, Jaylon Carlies

As the Indianapolis Colts prepare to welcome back two of their star players, they're potentially losing another.

Linebacker Jaylon Carlies was injured during the Colts' Week 7 game against the Miami Dolphins, seemingly with an ankle injury. The Colts have already lost numerous people on defense, including Tyquan Lewis, DeForest Buckner, Juju Brents, and Samson Ebukam - all of whom are on the injured reserve. Now, with the latest comments from head coach Shane Steichen, it seems that Carlies may be joining them.

The IndyStar reported that a source said Carlies is expected to miss around four weeks, which lines up with Steichen's update. "I won't put a timetable on it," he said. "But he's going to miss some time."

If Carlies will be out for four weeks or longer, then he will be a candidate for an injured reserve. And it comes at a bad time for Carlies, who was having a great time before getting hurt; he had racked up five tackles and a sack. In total for 2024, he has had 21 tackles, a sack, and a pass breakup. After the game, he was seen in the locker room wearing a boot and using crutches.

Yet there could be some more positive news on the horizon, too.

Steichen also added that star running back Jonathan Taylor, as well as Buckner, could return to practice this week. They're the two best respective players on offense and defense for the Colts, and if they could return in time for the Colts' upcoming tough series of games -- they'll be taking on the Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, and Buffalo Bills in the next three weeks -- it would be a huge boost for the injury-riddled team.

Buckner was injured in the third quarter during Week 2, during the game against the Green Bay Packers. Buckner's ankle could be seen rolling underneath him, and he had to be helped off the field; later, he couldn't bear weight on his leg from the bench, and had to be carted off the field. He had been a huge playmaker for the Colts since signing with them in 2020, recording at least seven sacks each year, and had just signed a a two-year extension worth $46 million in the offseason. In the five seasons he played with the Colts, he hasn't missed a single game due to injury until now. He has been named to the Pro Bowl three times, and once to first-team All-Pro.

Taylor, meanwhile, was injured two weeks later, in the Colts' Week 4 victory over the Steelers. Initially, Taylor seemed to want to return to the field, but the extent of his injury was soon clear: he had a high ankle sprain. Though it was reported to be a mild injury, Taylor has not been at practice for the last three weeks.

His loss has been a huge blow to the Colts offense; in 2024 alone, having gained nearly 350 rushing yards, and was a consistent leader in the NFL. Though he said it was not as bad as his 2022 ankle injury, it's still kept him off the field.

“Of course, with it not being as severe as previous, it’s actually a sign of relief. Let’s go through our normal ankle protocol. It’s actually better for me, because it’s not as severe as last time," he said, adding, "“At the start, you always have to have rest, because you have to have time for the injury to calm down. But then after that, you’ve got to go to work, strengthening it and making sure it can handle that load.”

Overall, Taylor has been projected to gain almost 1,500 yards this season.

Knowing that the Colts have lost another player to injury, the news of Buckner and Taylor's potential return will be a huge relief for fans, players, and coaches alike.