Colts RB Jonathan Taylor takes leave of absence for 'personal matter'

Indianapolis Colts’ superstar running back Jonathan Taylor has been in a nasty contract standoff with owner Jim Irsay this offseason. Their stalemate has been highly publicized, and it hasn’t been pretty. On Wednesday evening, Taylor left the team again due to a personal matter, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. The absence, per the team, is excused.

For more on Taylor, check out the article below from On3’s Nick Geddes.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor returned to training camp Monday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Taylor, working his way back from a right ankle injury, remains on the physically unable to perform list (PUP). The Colts placed Taylor on the PUP list on July 25, and the 24-year-old has made it clear to the team he won’t return to the field until he is 100% healthy, Stephen Holder of ESPN reported.

Taylor remains at a contract impasse with the Colts as he enters the final year of his rookie deal. To this point, Indianapolis has declined to engage in contract negotiations with Taylor, who requested a trade last month. Team owner Jim Irsay has publicly said the franchise won’t trade Taylor — a free agent at the end of the 2023 season.

“We’re not trading Jonathan … end of discussion,” Irsay said. “Not now and not in October!”

Irsay added: “I mean, if I die tonight and Jonathan Taylor’s out of the league, no one’s going to 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 part of it. Now’s the time for us to do our work. Now’s the time as an organization. And, you know, players who are 24, 25 years old, now’s the time to seize the moment.”

Taylor battled injury during the 2022 season, appearing in 11 games for the Colts. He finished the year with 861 rushing yards and four touchdowns. In 2021, Taylor’s second year in the league, the former Wisconsin star produced at an incredibly high level. He rushed for a league-leading 1,811 yards and scored 18 touchdowns on the ground. Taylor added 40 receptions for 360 receiving yards and two scores.

Colts bring in veteran RB amid Jonathan Taylor uncertainty

With so much uncertainty surrounding Taylor, the Colts signed veteran running back Kenyan Drake last week. Drake, 29, spent the 2022 season with the Baltimore Ravens. He appeared in 12 games (five starts), rushing for 482 yards on 4.4 yards per carry and four touchdowns. Drake added 17 receptions for 89 yards and a score. The former Alabama star previously spent time with the Miami Dolphins (2016-2019), Arizona Cardinals (2019-2020) and Las Vegas Raiders (2021). His career season came in 2020, when he rushed for 955 yards and 10 touchdowns.

During the Colts’ preseason opener against the Buffalo Bills Saturday, Drake rushed for 10 yards on five carries.

On3’s Nick Geddes also contributed to this article.