Taylor rushed four times for 15 yards and caught his only target for eight yards in Thursday's 27-14 preseason win over the Bengals. Taylor started the game but exited a few drives earlier than most of the other starters, allowing Tyler Goodson and Evan Hull to get some first-team reps. None of the other running backs in the organization are likely to do much besides spell Taylor when he needs a breather as long as the workhorse remains healthy. Even with more than two weeks to recover before the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Texans, the Colts understandably limited Taylor's workload in the preseason finale, as he's expected to regularly see 20-plus touches after averaging 19.8 combined rushing attempts and receptions per game over his previous four NFL regular seasons.
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Taylor rushed four times for 15 yards and caught his only target for eight yards in Thursday's 27-14 preseason win over the Bengals. Taylor started the game but exited a few drives earlier than most of the other starters, allowing Tyler Goodson and Evan Hull to get some first-team reps. None of the other running backs in the organization are likely to do much besides spell Taylor when he needs a breather as long as the workhorse remains healthy. Even with more than two weeks to recover before the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Texans, the Colts understandably limited Taylor's workload in the preseason finale, as he's expected to regularly see 20-plus touches after averaging 19.8 combined rushing attempts and receptions per game over his previous four NFL regular seasons.
Taylor and the Colts' starters are on track to play into the second quarter of Thursday's preseason finale against the Bengals, James Boyd of The Athletic reports. After Taylor gets his anticipated reps Thursday, look for Tyler Goodson, Evan Hull, Zavier Scott and Demetric Felton to have an opportunity to make their cases for depth slotting in an Indy backfield that also includes Trey Sermon, who's been dealing with a hamstring issue. As the coming season approaches, Taylor is healthy and entrenched as his team's clear-cut lead back, a context that should result in a high-volume role in the team's Anthony Richardson-helmed offense.
Coach Shane Steichen said Thursday that Taylor won't suit up for Saturday's preseason game against the Cardinals, Joel A. Erickson of The Indianapolis Star reports. The same can be said for the rest of the Colts' starters and No. 2 quarterback Joe Flacco. With Taylor in street clothes Saturday, Trey Sermon (hamstring, if available), Tyler Goodson, Evan Hull, Zavier Scott and Demetric Felton will be the candidates to work out of Indianapolis' backfield. As for Taylor, he's coming off back-to-back injury-riddled campaigns in which he averaged 90.4 yards from scrimmage per game and scored 12 total touchdowns in 21 regular-season contests.
Taylor rushed twice for four yards and wasn't targeted in Sunday's 34-30 preseason loss to the Broncos. Taylor played the first two drives alongside starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, but the Colts understandably didn't give the workhorse running back many touches. While Taylor may continue to sprinkle in some carries throughout the preseason, including Saturday against the Cardinals, the Colts have little reason to put significant tread on his tires during the exhibition slate considering Taylor has handled 925 carries over the past four regular seasons and is in line for another high-volume campaign in 2024.
Taylor is starting the Colts' first preseason game against Denver on Sunday, Mike Chappell of Fox 59 News Indianapolis reports. Taylor is likely to see the field for just a series or two, but it will give him an opportunity to play alongside Sunday's starting QB Anthony Richardson after the pair logged just two snaps together last year. It could be interesting to see how lining up next to Richardson affects Taylor's opportunities, particularly at the goal line, as Richardson is an explosive runner who logged a 38 percent goal-line carry rate last year before getting injured in Week 5. Taylor scored seven times on the ground and one time through the air over 10 regular-season contests in 2023.
Per the report, coach Shane Steichen noted earlier this week that he doesn't have a timetable for when Taylor might return from a thumb procedure, but at this stage an IR stint doesn't appear to be in the cards for the running back. For the duration of his absence, Zack Moss -- who filled in for Taylor earlier this season when he was on the reserve/PUP list due to an ankle injury -- is slated to lead the teams' backfield, with Trey Sermon in reserve.
Taylor's yardage total was his second highest of the season, and his final line marked his first time in three games averaging over 4.0 yards per carry. The fourth-year pro punched in his third and fourth touchdowns of the campaign on four- and one-yard runs in the first and fourth quarters, respectively. Although his blanking through the air for the first time this season was a disappointment, Taylor's ability to produce in that area isn't in question. The talented back next faces a tough Titans run defense in a Week 13 road divisional matchup.
The rushing yards total was his lowest since Week 6, but Taylor made an impact as a receiver instead, taking a screen pass from Gardner Minshew 10 yards for a TD in the second quarter. The running back has brought in at least three catches in three of his last four games, posting a 14-115-1 line on 17 targets over that stretch. Taylor should again be one of the focal points of the Colts' offense in Week 10 against a Patriots defense that's given up a touchdown to a RB in three straight contests.
Taylor put together an impressive performance on the ground for the second straight week, but he notably logged just one more carry than backfield mate Zack Moss, who also recorded the Colts' only rushing touchdown. Taylor appears to be explosive following his offseason ankle surgery, but with Moss also remaining effective and a similarly proficient pass catcher, it appears the duo will continue to operate in a fairly even timeshare for the foreseeable future. Taylor draws a favorable matchup in Week 9 on the road against the vulnerable Panthers run defense.