The Indianapolis Colts got some troubling news about the condition of star RB Jonathan Taylor following a humiliating defeat in Week 15.
After losing a 33-point advantage, the Indianapolis Colts set a record in the league for all the wrong reasons. Among the most unfavorable events that occurred that day was the record-breaking loss.
However, given that their primary electric playmaker departed the game early, the loss might not be the worst event of the day.
As per NFL Network, Jonathan Taylor had a high ankle sprain in the defeat. With three games left and a record of 4-9-1, the Colts are basically just playing out the campaign with a slumping Matt Ryan at the helm.
He was hurt on the first play of the game, his first touch. He caught a 13-yard throw from Matt Ryan and lost his footing. He left the field after that play and didn’t come back.
The Minnesota Vikings would go on to defeat the Indianapolis Colts, with the Vikings mounting the biggest comeback in league history after the Colts led 33-0 at the half.
Jonathan Taylor’s performance for the Colts this season
Taylor, who had a 1,811-yard season last season and amassed 2,980 rushing yards and 32 total scores in his first two campaigns, has only amassed 861 yards and four TDs on 192 runs in his 11 games this year.
Despite Taylor’s difficult season, he was still recording an average of 4.5 yards per run, primarily due to his accuracy, strength, and explosiveness. Nobody else on the squad who has run with the ball more than ten times is averaging more than 3.6 yards per run.
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor suffers high-ankle sprain, unlikely to play again this season. (via @rapsheet)
Someone will need to fill the void left by Taylor for the Colts. Last week, second-choice RB Deon Jackson managed the remainder of the game while running the ball 13 times for 55 yards. For the remainder of the season, he is expected to start at RB.
The only positive thing about the injury is that with the Colts shortly turning their focus to the 2023 season, Jonathan Taylor will now be given more time to allow his ankle to heal.
The team’s final regular-season game is against the Los Angeles Chargers at home this coming week, followed by road games against the New York Giants and Houston Texans.