Report: Packers were in talks with Colts, had legitimate interest in Jonathan Taylor

In a shocking turn of events, ESPN is reporting the Green Bay Packers were in talks with the Indianapolis Colts regarding running back Jonathan Taylor.

Many teams were interested in gaining the former Wisconsin star running back, namely the Miami Dolphins, who many believed Taylor would be traded to. However, it’s evident not all the interested parties were brought to light before Indianapolis decided to hold on to Taylor for the time-being, as almost nobody pegged Green Bay as a potential destination.

“The Miami Dolphins weren’t the only team interested in acquiring Jonathan Taylor from the Indianapolis Colts. The Green Bay Packers also were in talks with the Colts and had legitimate interest in trading for the star running back, sources told ESPN,” wrote Stephen Holder of ESPN. “Indianapolis moved forward after its self-imposed deadline of Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET came and went without receiving what the team deemed an acceptable offer for Taylor, who requested a trade last month and was authorized by the Colts last week to seek out a trade partner.

“But the Packers emerging as a contender remains relevant because Taylor can still be traded, even though he is on the reserve-physically unable to perform list and therefore must miss at least the first four games of the regular season.”

While Taylor would make sense in a way for the Packers, as it would give another weapon to an offense led by first-year starting quarterback Jordan Love, Green Bay already has a crowded running back corps, featuring Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon. Perhaps they would’ve sent one of them to Indianapolis in the deal, or elsewhere after acquiring Taylor.

Nevertheless, a deal for Jonathan Taylor could still come to fruition, as ESPN pointed out, but it isn’t happening at the moment. Perhaps Green Bay will revisit the possibility in the coming weeks.

More on Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts

Continuing, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay addressed the status of Taylor during the 24-17 preseason victory over the Chicago Bears on Saturday, amid the star running back’s ongoing contract dispute with the team.

Irsay, appearing on the broadcast, expressed his excitement for having Taylor back in the fold after he returned to the team Monday.

“We’re excited to have Jonathan Taylor back,” Irsay said, via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. “I know these things are always difficult. I respect any time people are, they’re trying to fight for their position for their families and all those things. And, you know, l’ve been around it so long that I just think the biggest thing that I preach is timing is everything. We’re really looking forward to him to playing his way into being the Jonathan Taylor he was. And we’re really excited to have him and we want to do everything we can to support him and embrace him as a Colt, because he’s a great young man. I can’t say enough about him and his family.

“Look[,] you have these problems, you know how it is. You never go in with no problems at all. These days you hope you have less contractual problems because the way the CBA is and they work a lot of things through. But you have them and that’s what I know [general manager] Chris Ballard is going to work hard on and try to get the waters as calm as they can and go forward.”