Will Jonathan Taylor play in Week 5? Latest news, updates, trade rumors as Colts RB set to return to practice

Jacob Camenker

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Will Jonathan Taylor play in Week 5? Latest news, updates, trade rumors as Colts RB set to return to practice image

The Colts are in the thick of the AFC South race after a solid 2-2 start to the 2023 NFL season. They may be getting a key reinforcement as Week 5 arrives.

That would be star running back Jonathan Taylor. The fourth-year pro missed the first four weeks of the season after being placed on the PUP list because of a lingering ankle injury.

Now, Taylor is healthier; and he may be positioned to rejoin the Colts' backfield ahead of Week 5.

Colts coach Shane Steichen revealed that Taylor returned to practice on Wednesday.

"He's super excited to be back with his teammates, and I look forward to having him," Steichen told reporters, per ESPN.

That will open up a 21-day window practice window for Taylor, within which Indianapolis must make a decision about his status. The Colts will either be able to return Taylor to the 53-man roster before the period is up or declare him out for the remainder of the season if they choose not to activate him.

Of course, Taylor's situation is complicated by the ongoing contract dispute between him and the Colts. He requested a trade away from Indianapolis before the season, but that was never granted. As such, there are questions about whether he will play for the Colts or continue to hold out in hopes of being moved to another team.

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Taylor's status will become a major talking point for fantasy football owners because of the drama surrounding him. Here's what to know about it as he prepares to potentially make his return to the gridiron.

Will Jonathan Taylor play in Week 5?

Taylor's status for the Colts' Week 5 game against the Titans hasn't yet been decided.

However, Steichen at least indicated that there is a chance the 24-year-old could suit up when he was asked whether Taylor had any chance of being active for that contest.

"Could be, yes," Steichen said.

Steichen also acknowledged that Taylor was in "good shape," so he may be ready to physically handle playing in Week 5.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Friday that Taylor has continued to progress throughout the week and is "expected" to suit up "if all goes well."

From @GMFB: On the #Colts getting RB Jonathan Taylor back, the #Rams getting WR Cooper Kupp back, and the #Bills (maybe) getting Von Miller back. pic.twitter.com/fZcaXQAjbp
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 6, 2023

At the same time, Taylor hadn't officially practiced with the Colts since Dec. 17, 2022, because of his ankle problem. As such, Steichen wants to see how the running back looks on the practice field before committing to bringing him back and giving him a big-time workload.

"Conditioning-wise, obviously putting on the pads and practicing is a different deal," Steichen said. "I know it's been a long time since he's played football, so we'll see how practice goes this week, see where he is at physically from putting the pads on, and we'll go from there."

So, Taylor's status in practice will be worth watching. That said, it's worth noting that he won't be included on the team's official practice report because he remains on the PUP list. That may make it hard to track his overall progress outside of the updates provided by Steichen.

Even so, the Colts coach seems optimistic that Taylor's rehab has gone well, he is "feeling good" and could return to game action at some point soon.

"We'll see where he's at," Steichen said of Taylor. "If he feels good, then we'll rotate him in."

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Jonathan Taylor fantasy outlook

Once Taylor does return to action, fantasy football owners will be wondering exactly what his role in the Indianapolis backfield will look like.

Before the season, it was presumed that Taylor would be a true workhorse for the Colts. Will that still be the case? The emergence of Zack Moss in place of Taylor may slightly complicate that.

Moss has performed admirably in three games as the Colts' starter since returning from a broken arm that sidelined him to start the 2023 season. He has run for 280 yards and a touchdown while catching six passes for 42 yards and a score as well.

Moss isn't going to replace Taylor by any means unless the Wisconsin product is traded (more on that later). But what Moss will provide the Colts is a method by which they can ease Taylor back into the swing of things and ensure that he is as close to full strength as possible while on the field.

What does that mean for Taylor's fantasy value? Well, at least in his first couple of games back, Taylor could split carries with Moss. That may only give him the volume of a low-end RB2 or Flex play short-term.

That said, Taylor is a more explosive playmaker than Moss and is a more dynamic pass-catcher, so long term, he should still have the upside of an RB1. Perhaps Anthony Richardson will vulture too many touchdowns from Taylor to allow him to reach that ceiling but Taylor owners should still be bullish about his potential.

After all, Moss — who lacks Taylor's elusiveness — is averaging 2.4 yards before contact per run this season. That is tied for 23rd among 48 qualified running backs. Taylor should do better behind an offensive line that is having more success than it did during the 2022 NFL season.

So, if you're hanging onto Taylor, it's best to keep doing so. Even if he doesn't return in Week 5, he should still be a high-quality asset, whether it's for the Colts or another team.

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Jonathan Taylor trade rumors

The Colts seemed willing to trade Taylor ahead of the NFL's 53-man roster deadline on Aug. 29, as they essentially gave themselves a five-day window within which to move him. No deal was reached before that self-imposed deadline, however, and Taylor landed on the PUP list.

Since then, it has evidently been quiet on the Taylor trade front. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that there have been "no recent trade talks" surrounding Taylor. It isn't because of a lack of interest in the back though, as the two reporters detailed.

One source insisted multiple teams remain interested in swinging a trade for Taylor, 24, and signing him to a new contract in line with the NFL's top backs.

The two insiders also reported that the Colts are open to making a trade, but the Packers, who had been among the teams interested in acquiring Taylor, are "no longer in the mix" to acquire him. Meanwhile, the other team known to have pursued him, the Dolphins, hasn't contacted Indianapolis about a trade since before the season began.

There are still several landing spots that make sense for Taylor. The Ravens and the Buccaneers stand out among contenders that could use an upgrade at the running back position.

But as it stands, it seems like Taylor will remain with the Colts in the short term. But perhaps things will change as the NFL's Oct. 31 trade deadline approaches.

Jacob Camenker

Jacob Camenker first joined The Sporting News as a fantasy football intern in 2018 after his graduation from UMass. He became a full-time employee with TSN in 2021 and now serves as a senior content producer with a particular focus on the NFL. Jacob worked at NBC Sports Boston as a content producer from 2019 to 2021. He is an avid fan of the NFL Draft and ranked 10th in FantasyPros’ Mock Draft Accuracy metric in both 2021 and 2022.

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Will Jonathan Taylor play in Week 5? Latest news, updates, trade rumors as Colts RB set to return to practice

Will Jonathan Taylor play in Week 5?

Jacob Camenker