The issues between the Indianapolis Colts and running back Jonathan Taylor are not getting cleaner. In fact, they may be getting messier.
On Saturday, Taylor requested a trade shortly after a meeting with team owner, Jim Irsay. On Sunday, news broke that Taylor reported a back issue during a physical.
And since the injury did not occur with the team, ESPN’s Stephen Holder is reporting contract situation for the 2023 season could be complicated.
“Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, who has requested a trade, reported back pain during his pre-training camp physical that was deemed to be from an injury that was not sustained while playing for Indianapolis, a league source told ESPN,” Holder said. “The situation now has the team considering whether to place Taylor on the non-football injury list, which could result in Indianapolis withholding his salary, the source said.”
This situation didn’t need to get more hectic. Shortly after Taylor requested a trade, Irsay said (among other things) that the running back would not be moved.
Seeing the latest news, the NFL world was highly critical of Irsay as well as Taylor’s camp — specifically, his agent.
Taylor, a second-round pick of the Colts in 2020, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. If Indianapolis does place him on the non-football injury list, it could keep him from entering free agency after the 2023 season.
[ESPN.com]