One of the hot topics in the running back market this offseason is what the Colts will do with Jonathan Taylor’s contract. As the season is quickly approaching, we are getting more and more answers that seem to lead to more and more questions.

On Saturday, July 29th, Jonathan Taylor was invited onto Colts GM Jim Irsay’s luxury bus. What transpired from the private conversation was that JT formally requested a trade and that Jim Irsay understands what the RB market is and has no interest in trading his star RB.

#Colts owner Jim Irsay: “If I die tonight and Jonathan Taylor is out of the league, no one’s gonna miss us. The league goes on. We know that. The National Football (League) rolls on. It doesn’t matter who comes and who goes, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”

— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) July 30, 2023

Jim Irsay to FOX59/CBS4: "We will not trade Jonathan Taylor. That is a certainty. Not now or not in October. That is the bottom line.''

— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) July 30, 2023

This is essentially where we are right now, however, reports and developments from Sunday, July 30th have made things even more complicated for Jonathan Taylor and the Colts.

On Tuesday, July 25th, the Colts announced that Jonathan Taylor (along with others) has been placed on the Active/PUP list. (PUP meaning, physically unable to perform). This came as a bit of a shock to Colts fans as just days prior, Jim Irsay mentioned that Jonathan Taylor would be good to go.

On Sunday, July 30th, news broke from Mike Chappell and ESPN’s Stephen Holder that Jonathan Taylor suffered a back injury while working away from the team in Arizona.

Breaking: Colts considering placing Jonathan Taylor on non-football injury list (NFI), per source. He suffered some type of back injury while working out on own in Arizona. Also still rehabbing from January ankle surgery. Currently on PUP.

— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) July 31, 2023

Source to ESPN: Colts RB Jonathan Taylor reported to training camp complaining of back pain that was deemed to be from a pre-existing issue. The team is now considering placing him on the non-football injury list, which could result in his not being paid for the regular season.

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) July 31, 2023

This is where things started to get really messy. It was presumed that Jonathan Taylor’s inactivity during training camp was from his ankle injury last season, but now it appears that it’s the back injury that is a problem. To add some fuel to the fire, JT denies having any back pain.

1.) Never had a back pain.

2.) Never reported back pain.

Not sure who “sources” are, but find new ones 🤔

— Jonathan Taylor (@JayT23) July 31, 2023

So what in the world went wrong here?

Did someone leak false information to ESPN and Chappell? Is Jonathan Taylor outright lying? Both ESPN and Mike Chappell have not recanted the story and Jonathan Taylor has not recanted his side of the story.

To add more fuel to the fire, if Jonathan Taylor is indeed injured and if the Colts actually pursue putting Taylor on the NFI list (non-football injury), this would put Taylor out of the 2023 season unpaid and the last year of his rookie deal, which is this year, would roll over to 2024. This means that JT would not get traded and he would not get the extension that he wants this year.

The Colts organization certainly have the upper hand in this situation and right now, JT is handcuffed to either play for the Colts, sit out under the NFI and not get paid, or hold out and get a bevy of fines for not playing and ruin his reputation.

Before I close this rant, I would like to point out a tweet that brought to light a big question that I have mulled over all weekend.

Jonathan Taylor saga timeline April-Present

April:

-Jonathan Taylor says things will happen naturally

May:

-Jonathan Taylor hires new agent

June:

-Jonathan Taylor says he wants to retire a Colt

July:

-Jonathan Taylor reports to camp

-Jonathan Taylor request a trade…

— CLew 🏈🏀⚾️🥊 (@droppedballspod) July 31, 2023

So, the question is – what went wrong for Jonathan Taylor and the Colts? It would appear that ever since Jonathan Taylor hired his new agent, things have been a mess. That’s where things went wrong. If things are going to be reconciled between the Colts and JT, that agent cannot be a factor anymore. If not, this relationship will not be reconciled and JT will have a miserable 2023 season.