As Jonathan Taylor – like the rest of us – awaits a resolution amid swirling trade rumors, the Colts running back’s focus remains on his team’s upcoming game.
And while Taylor acknowledged he can’t dodge those rumors, he’s adept at not letting them disrupt his work and preparation for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“You can’t avoid it,” Taylor said. “It’s definitely (on the) internet, all that stuff. You can’t avoid it, but it’s more about trying to block that out.
“… You’re not going to avoid it, not until it’s all over.”
At some point between when you’re reading this at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, which is the NFL’s trade deadline, we’ll know if Taylor will remain with the Colts or be dealt to another team. A resolution will come either before or shortly after that time.
But, again, Taylor is thinking more about Sunday, when he’ll take the field for the Colts against the Cowboys.
“We got an opportunity, especially this week after last week, to come back and put a better product on the field,” Taylor said. “That’s my biggest goal. I mean, last week was tough. You never want to go and put that on display, as a whole, as a group. … Just having the opportunity to go out there and not necessarily make things right, but put a better product on the field than last game, that’s our main goal. We got to to out there and we got to get a win. It’s at home. The fans deserve it.”
Taylor, in the Colts’ 42-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars last week, rushed eight times for 23 yards. His diminished usage didn’t have anything to do with trade speculation; the Colts quickly fell behind and were down 28-0 at halftime, then took their starters out in the fourth quarter.
After Week 8, Taylor had strong comments about his own play, and he said Thursday he’s working toward finding ways to better help his team whether he has the ball in his hands or not. That’s his mantra for Sunday, and then by Tuesday at 4 p.m., he’ll find out with the rest of us where he’ll play his next game – either at Lucas Oil Stadium or somewhere else.
“The past couple weeks, it’s kind of been the same thing, but it won’t be until Tuesday at that time where then you’ll know exactly what’s going on, exactly what the verdict is,” Taylor said. “You just have to continue to go to work. You got to try to win the game, play your best game to help your team win and then let the chips fall where they may.”
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The Colts on Thursday held their second practice of Week 9 leading up to Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lucas Oil Stadium.
For the second straight day, linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither (knee) did not participate in practice. Cornerback Justin Walley, who has not practiced since before the Colts game against the Vikings, remained sidelined with a knee injury.
Defensive tackle Grover Stewart also did not practice due to a veteran rest day.
Tight end Drew Ogletree returned to practice in a limited capacity after missing Wednesday with a knee injury.
Running back Jonathan Taylor, wide receiver Keenan Allen and cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. all practiced in full after having rest days.
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Colts running back Jonathan Taylor addresses swirling trade speculation surrounding him as the trade deadline quickly approaches Tuesday. While Taylor reads and hears things, he makes sure it does not impact his preparation and practice. Taylor then evaluates his season so far, and what he hopes to do better the rest of the way. Defensive end Caden Curry explains how players are stepping up to fill the void of DeForest Buckner following Buckner’s trade to San Francisco. Curry describes the challenge that veteran quarterback Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense presents. He also praises the effort and energy fellow rookie CJ Allen is bringing as he steps into starting role: https://www.colts.com/video/indianapolis-colts-running-back-jonathan-taylor-caden-curry-colts-vs-dallas-cowboys-locker-talk-week-9-discuss-trade-rumors-nfl-trade-deadline-deforest-buckner-san-francisco-49ers-cj-allen
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