The Colts got off to a hot start in the first quarter against the Vikings, but it might have come with a cost.
During the first quarter, running back Jonathan Taylor left the game and was forced to go to the locker room with an ankle injury. He was eventually ruled out for the game.
It has been a somewhat disappointing campaign for Taylor a year after rushing for more than 1,800 yards and averaging more than nine yards per carry. In 10 games this season, he has 861 rushing yards on 192 carries with four touchdowns, with averages of 4.8 yards per carry and 86.1 yards per game.
The Colts didn't need much help from him in the first quarter. After kicking a field goal on the first drive, the Colts returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and recovered a fumble that they promptly turned into seven more to take an early 17-0 lead.
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Here's everything you need to know about Taylor's injury.
Jonathan Taylor injury update
Taylor was forced to leave the Colts-Vikings game in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Not long after the injury, he was forced to go the locker room. He was ruled out of the game before the end of the quarter.
(He just went into the locker room.) pic.twitter.com/699Ndeo68m
— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) December 17, 2022
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Taylor suffered a sprained ankle that isn't considered to be a major injury, but nonetheless could sideline him for the remaining three games with the Colts out of the playoff race.
Initial tests showed that Colts’ RB Jonathan Taylor suffered a sprained ankle during today’s loss, per source. While it is considered “nothing major”, Taylor will undergo additional testing, and with the Colts 4-9-1 record, it is uncertain when or if he’ll play again this season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 17, 2022
Before the injury, Taylor caught only one pass for 13 yards and had no rushing attempts.
This isn't the first time this season Taylor has dealt with an ankle injury. He missed the team's Week 9 clash against the Patriots with an ankle ailment earlier this year.
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Colts RB depth chart
Behind Taylor, the Colts have a pair of running backs on the depth chart: Deon Jackson and Zack Moss.
Jackson is second on the team in rushing attempts behind Taylor with 44 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown. Moss is seventh on the team with seven carries and is tied for seventh with 31 rushing yards. He has not scored a touchdown.
The Colts have had more running back depth at times this season with Nyheim Hines at one point on the roster and Phillip Lindsay seeing some action. However, Hines is now on the Bills and Lindsay is a free agent, who last appeared during that Week 9 game against New England.
